BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

4- 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Discovery  of  America  by  Christopher  Columbus,       -        -       5 
CHAPTER  II. 

0  "j 

Landing  of  our  Forefathers,  1$ 

CHAPTER  III. 
Commencement  of  hostilities  with  the  natives,  -       24 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Invasion  of  New-York  and  New-England,  and  destruction 

of  Schenectedy  by  the  French  and  Indians,  75 

CHAPTER  V. 

Massacre  of  the  inhabitants  of  Deerfield,  and   captivity  of  the 
Rev.  John  Williams  and  family  by  the  savages,  80 

CHAPTER   VI. 

Of  the  different  tribea  of  Indians  inhabiting   the   Western 
country,  95 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Washington's  Expedition,  and   defeat  of  Gen.  Braddock  by 

the  Indians,  116 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Adventures  of  Capt.  Daniel  Boon,  comprising  an  account  of 
the  wars  with  the  Indians  on  the  Ohio,  from  1769  k>  1782 
written  by  himself,  121 


£81 

iv  ~£n  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Expedition  of  Gen.  Harmer,  and  his  defeat  by  the  Indians,     134 
CHAPTER  X. 

Defeat  of  Gen.  St.  Clair  by  the  Indians)  138 

Indians  defeaitd,  -  ....         ]46 

Defeatjof  Majo;  M'Mahon,  -  -      147 

CHAPTER  XL 

Depredations  of  the  Indians  on  the  frontiers,  -      149 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Defeat  of  the  Indians  by  Gen.  Wayne,  -  -  166 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Gov.  Harrison's  engagement  with  the  savages  on  the  Wabash,  172 
CHAPTER  XIV. 

Engagement  with  Indians  during  the  late  war  with  Great 

Britain,  -  -  -  -  179 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Creek  War,  Massacre  at  Fort  Mims,  Battle  at  Talushatches, 
Tallegada,  &c.     -  -  -  -  -  188 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Creek  war  continued,  Battle  at  Antosse,  Attack  upon  Camp 
Defiance,  &c.  -  -  -  -  -      199 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Conclusion  of  the   Creek  war,  Brilliant  Victory  at  the  bend 
of  the  Tallapoosa,  &c.  -      215 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Seminole  war,  Preliminary  Observations,  &c.  224 


BANCROFT 

LIBRARY 


GHAP.  I. 

DISCOVERY   OP  AMERICA,   BY    CHRIS- 
TOPHER  COLUMBUS. 

MANKIND  owe  the  discovery  of  the  western  world 
to  the  gold,  the  silver,  the  precious  stones,  the  spices, 
silks  and  costly  manufactures  of  the  East  ;  and  even 
these  incentives,  were  for  a  considerable  time,  insuf 
ficient  to  prompt  to  the  undertaking,  although  the 
most  skilful  navigator  of  the  age  proffered  to  risk  his 
life  in  the  attempt. 

Christopher  Columbus,  who  was  destined   to  the 
high  honour  of  revealing*  a  new  hemisphere  to  Euro 
peans,  was  by  birth  a  Genoese,  who  had  been   early 
trained  to  a  sea-faring  life,  and  having  acquired  every 
branch  of  knowledge  connected  with  that  profession, 
was  no  less  distinguished  by  his  skill  and  abilities, 
than  for  intrepid  and  persevering  spirit.     This  man 
when  about  forty  years  of  age,  had  formed  the  great 
idea  of  reaching  the  East  Indies  by  sailing  westward; 
but  as  his  fortune  was  very  small,   and  the  attempt 
required  very  effectual  patronage,  desirous  that  his 
native  country  should  profit  by  his   success,  he  laid 
his  plan  before  the  senate  of  Genoa,  but  the  scheme 
appearing  chimerical,  it  was  rejected.     He  then  re 
paired  to  the  court  of  Portugal  ;  and  although  the 
Portuguese  were  at  that  time  distinguished  for  their 
commercial  spirit,  and  John  II.    who  then   reigned, 
was  a  discerning  and  enterprising   prince,   yet  the 
prepossessions  of  the    great   men  in  his  court,   to 
whom  the  matter  was  referred,  caused  Columbus  fi 
nally  to  fail  in  his    attempt  there  also.     He  next 
2 


6  DISCOVERY    OF    AMERICA. 

applied    to    Ferdinand    and    Isabella,     King     and 
Queen  of  Arragon  and  Castile,  and  at  the  same  time 
sent  his  brother  Bartholomew  (who  followed  the  same 
profession  :  and  who  was    well   qualified  to  fill  the 
immediate  place  under  such  a  leader)  to  England, 
to  lay  the  proposal  before  Henry  VII.,  which,   like 
wise,  fortunately  for  the  future  well  being  of   the 
country,  met  with  no  success.     Many  were  the  years 
which  Christopher  Columbus    spent  in  ineffectual  at 
tendance  at  the  Castilian  court;  the  impoverished  state 
into  which  the  finances  of  the  United  Kingdoms  were 
reduced,  the  war  with  Granada  repressing  every  dis 
position  to  attempt  great  designs  ;  but  the  war  being 
at  length  terminated,  the  powerful  mind  of  Isabella 
broke  through  all  obstacles  ;  she  declared  herself  the 
patroness  of  Columbus,   whilst  her    husband    Ferdi 
nand,  declining  to  partake  as   an    adventurer  in  the 
voyage,  only  gave  it  the  sanction  of  his  name.    Thus 
did  the  superior  genius  of  a  woman  effect  the  discov 
ery  of  one  half  of  the  globe. 

The  ships  sent  on  this  important  search  ware  only 
three  in  number,  two  of  them  very  small.  They  had 
ninety  men  on  board.  .Although  the  expense  of  the 
expedition  had  long,  remained  the  sole  ol3stacle  to  its 
being  undertaken,  yet  when  every  thing  was  provid 
ed,  the  cost  did  not  amount  to  more  than  17,7(>0  dol 
lars,  and  there  were  twelve  months  provision  put  on 
board. 

Columbus  set  sail  from  port  Palos,  in  the  province 
ef  Andalusia,  on  the  3d  of  Aug.  1492  ;  he  proceed 
ed  to  the  Canary  Islands,  and  from  thence  directed  his 
course  due  West  m  the  latitude  28  North.  In  this 
course  he  continued  for  two  months,  without  falling 
in  with  any  land,  which  caused  such  a  spirit  of  discon 
tent  and  mutiny  to  arise  as  the  superior  address  and 
management  of  the  commander  became  unequal  to 
suppress,  although  for  these  qualities  he  was  emin 
ently  distinguished.  He  was  at  length  reduced  to 
the  necessity  of  entering  into  a  solemn  engagement 


(£? 

DISCOVERY    OF    AMERICA.  7 

to  abandon  the  enterprise  and  return  home,  if  land  did 
not  appear  in  three  days.  Probably  he  would  -not 
have  been  able  to  retain  his  people  so  long  from  acts 
of  violence  and  outrage,  in  pursuing  so  untried  and 
dreary  a  course,  had  they  not  been  sensible  that  their 
safety  in  returning  home  depended  very  much  on  his 
skill  as  a  navigator  in  conducting  the  vessel. 

At  length  the  appearance  of  land  changed  their 
despondency  to  the  most  exulting  rapture.  It  was 
an  island  abounding  with  inhabitants,  both  sexes  of 
which  were  quite  naked  ;  their  manners  kind,  gentle 
and  unsuspecting.  Columbus  named  it  San  Salvador. 
It  is  one  of  the  clusters  which  bears  the  general  name 
of  Bahama.  It  was  only  3°,  30  min.  lat.  to  the 
South  of  the  island  of  Gomora,  one  of  the  Canaries, 
from  whence  he  took  his  departure.  This  navigator 
was  still  so  confirmed  in  the  opinion  which  he  had 
formed  before  he  undertook  the  voyage,  that  he  be 
lieved  himself  then  to  be  on  an  island  which  was  sit 
uated  adjacent  to  the  Indies.  Proceeding  to  the 
South,  he  saw  three  other  islands  which  he  named 
St.  iViary,  of  the  Conception,  Ferdinand  and  Isabella. 
At  length  he. arrived  at  a  very  large Island,  and  as  he 
had  taken  seven  of  the  natives  of  San  Salvador  on 
board,  he  learned  from  them  it  was  called  uba,  but 
.he  gave  it  the  name  of  Juanna.  He  next  proceeded 
to  an  island  which  he  called  Espagnola,  in  honour  of 
the  kingdom  by  which  he  was  employed,  and  it  still 
bears  the  name  of  Hispaniola.  Here  he  built  a  fort 
and  formed  a  small  settlement.  He  then  returned 
home,  having  on  board  some  of  the  natives, whom  h<* 
had  taken  from  the  different  islands.  Steering  a 
more  southern  course,  he  fell  in  with  some  of  the 
Carribee  islands,  and  arrived  at  the  port  of  Palos  on 
the  15th  of  March,  1493  ;,having  been  seven  months 
and  el'vejj  days  on  this  most  important  voyage. 

On  his  arrival  letters  patent  were  issued  by  the 
king  and  queen  confirming  to  Columbus,  and  to  h:s 
hiirs,  all  the  privileges  contained  in  a  capitulation 


8  DISCOVERY    OF    AMERICA. 

which  had  been  executed  before  his  departure,   and 
his  family  was  ennobled. 

Not  only  the  Spaniards,  but  the  other  nations    of 
Europe,  seem  to  have  adopted  the  opinion  of  Colum 
bus,  in  considering  the  countries  which  he  had  disco 
vered  as  a  part  of  India.     Whence   Ferdinand  and 
Isabella  gave  them  the  name  "Indies"  in  the  ratifi 
cation  of  their  former    agreement    with  Columbus. 
Even  after  the  error  was  detected  the  name  was  re 
tained,  and  the  appellation  of  %<  West  Indies"  is  now 
§iven  by  all  Europe  to  this  country,  and  that  of  In- 
ian  to  the  inhabitants. 

Nothing  could  possibly  tend  more  effectually  to 
rouse  every  active  principle  of  human  nature, than  the 
discoveries  which  Columbus  had  made  ;  no  time  was 
therefore  lost,  nor   expense  spared,  in  preparing  a 
fleet  of  ships,  with  which  this  great  man  should  revis 
it  the  countries  he  had  made  known.    Seventeen  ships 
wore  got  ready  in  six  months,   and  fifteen  hundred 
persons  embarked  on  board  of  them,    among  whom 
were  many  of  noble  families,    and  who    filled    hon 
ourable  stations.     These  engaged  in  the   enterprize 
from  the  expectation  that  the  new  discovered  country 
was  either  the  Cipango  of  Marco  Paulo,  or  the  Ophir 
from  which  Solomon  obtaihed  his  gold   and  precious 
merchandize.     Ferdinand  now  desirous  of  securing 
what  he  had  before  been  unwilling  to  venture  for  the 
obtaining,  applied  to  the  Pope  to  be  invested  with  a 
right  in  these  new  discovered  countries,  as  well  as  to 
all  future  discoveries  in  lhat  direction  ;  but  as  it  was 
necessary  that  there  should   be  some  favor   of  reli 
gion  in  the  business,  he  founded  his  plea  on  a  desire 
of  converting  the  savage  natives  to  the  Catholic  faith, 
which  plan  had  its  desired  effect 

Alexander  VI.  who  then  filled  the  papal  chair,  it 
ought  to  be  mentioned,  was  the  most  profligate  and 
abandoned  of  men.  Being  a  native  of  Arragon,and 
desirous  of  conciliating  the  favour  of  Ferdinand  for 
the  purpose  of  aggrandizing  his  family,  he  readily 


DISCOVERY    0V    AMERICA-  9 

granted  a  request, which,  at  no  expense  or  risk,  tend 
ed  to  extend  the  consequence  and  authority  of  the 
papacy  ;  he  therefore  bestowed  on  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella,  "  all  the  countries  inhabited  by  infidels, 
which  they  had  discovered."  But  as  it  was  necessary 
to  prevent  this  grant  from  interfering  with  one  not 
long  before  made  to  the  crown  of  Portugal,  he  ap 
pointed  that  a  line  supposed  to  be  drawn  pole  to 
pole,  one  hundred  miles  to  the  westward  of  Azores, 
should  serve  as  a  limit  between  them  ;  and  in  the 
plenitude  of  his  power,  conferred  all  to  the  east  of 
this  imaginary  line  upon  the  Portuguese,  and  all  to 
the  west  of  it  upon  the  Spaniards, 

Columbus  set  sail  on  his  voyage  from  the    port  of 
Cadiz,  on  the  25th  of  September,  1493.     When  he 
arrived  at  Espagniola,  he   had  the    affliction  to  find 
that  all  the  Spaniards  whom  he  had  left  there  amoun 
ting  to  thirty-six  in  number,had  been  put  to  death  by 
the  natives,  in  revenge  for  the  insults    and    outrages 
which  they  had  committed.     After  having  traced  out 
the  plan  of  a  large  plain,  near  a  spacious  bay,    and 
given    it   the    name    of  Isabella,    in  honour  of  his 
patroness,   the  queen   of  Castile,  and   appointed  his 
brother  Don  Diego  to  preside,  as  Deputy  Governor  in 
his  absence,  Columbus,  on  the  24th  of  April,  1494, 
sailed  with  one  ship  and  two  small  barks  to  make  fur 
ther  discoveries  in  those  seas.     In  this  voyage  he  was 
employed  five  months,  and  fell  in  with  many  small  is 
lands  on    the  coast   of  Cuba,   but  none  of  any  im 
portance  except  the  island  of  Jamaica.     Soon  after 
his  return  to  Hispaniola,  he  resolved    to    make  war 
with  the  Indians,  who  according  to  the  Spanish  his 
torians,  amounted  to  100,000  men.      These  having 
experienced  every  lawless  act  of  violence  from  their  in 
vaders,   were     rendered    extremely  inveterate    and 
thirsted  for  revenge,  a  disposition  which  appears  to 
have  been  foreign  from  their  natures.     Having  col 
lected  his  full  force,  he  attacked  them  by  night,whilst 
they  were  assembled  on  a  wide  plain,  and  obtained  a 


10  DISCOVERY    OF    AMERICA 

most  decisive  victory,  without  the  loss  of  one  man 
on  his  part.  Beside  the  effect  of  cannon  and  firearms, 
the  noise  of  which  was  appalling,  and  their  effect 
against  a  numerous  body  of  Indians,  closely  drawn 
together  in  the  highest  degree  destructive,  Columbus 
had  brought  over  with  him  a  small  body  of  cavalry. 
The  Indians  who  had  never  before  seen  su-ch  a  crea 
ture,  imagined  the  Spanish  horses  to  be  rational  be 
ings,  and  that  each  with  his  rider  formed  but  one  ani 
mal  ;  they  were  astonished  at  their  speed,  and  con 
sidered  their  irnpetuousity  and  strength  as  irresistible. 
In  this  onset  they  had  beside  another  formidable  en- 
em  to  terrify  and  destroy  them  ;  a  great  number  of 
the  largest  an'!  fiercest  species  of  dogs,  which  were 
th-n  bred  in  Europe,  had  been  brought  hither,  which 
set  on  by  their  weapons,  without  attempting  resis 
tance,  they  fled  with  all  the  speed  which  terror  could 
excite.  Numbers  were  slain,  and  more  made  prison 
ers,  who  were  immediately  consigned  to  slavery. 

The  character  of  Columbus  stands  very  high  in 
the  estimation  of  mankind  ;  he  is  venerated  not  only 
as  a  man  possessing  superior  fortitude,  and  such  a 
steady  perseverance,  as  no  impediments,  dangers  or 
sufferings  could  shake,  but  as  equally  distinguished 
for  piety  and  virtue.  His  second  son  Ferdinand, 
who  wrote  the  Jife  of  his  father,  apologizes  for  this 
severity  towards  the  natives,  on  account  of  the  dis 
tressed  state  into  which  the  colony  was  brought. 
The  change  of  climate,  and  the  indispensable  labours 
which  were  required  of  men  unaccustomed  to  any 
exertions,  had  swept  away  great  numbers  of  the  new 
settlers,  and  the  survivors  were  declining  daily, whilst 
such  was  the  irreconcileable  enmity  of  the  natives, 
that  the  most  kind  and  circumspect  conduct  on  the 
part  of  the  Spaniards,  would  not  have  been  effectual 
to  regain  their  good  will.  This  apology  seems  to 
have  been  generally  admitted,  for  all  modern  writters 
have  bestowed  upon  the  discoverer  of  the  new  world 
the  warmest  commendations  unmixed  with  censure. 


DISCOVERY    OP    AMERICA,  11 

It  is  an  unpleasant  task  to  derogate  from  exalted 
merit  and  to  impute  a  deliberate  plan  of  cruelty  and  ex 
tirpation  to  a  man  revered  for  moral  worth  ;  but  al 
though  a  pert  affectation  of  novel  opinions  could  only 
originate  in  weak  minds,  and  can  be  countenanced 
only  by  such,  yet  a  free  and  unreserved  scrutiny  of 
facts,  can  alone  separate  truth  from  error,  and  appor 
tion  the  just  and  intrinsic  degree  of  msrit  belonging  to 
any  character.  That  Columbus  had  formed  the  de 
sign  of  waging  offensive  war  against  the  Indians,  and 
reducing  them  to  slavery,  before  he  entered  upon  his 
second  voyage,  and  consequently  before  he  was  appri 
zed  of  the  destruction  of  the  people,  which  he  had 
left  upon  the  island  of  Hispaniola,  may  be  inferred 
from  his  proceeding  himself  with  such  a  number  of 
fierce  and  powerful  dogs. 

Having  found  the  natives  peaceable  and  well  dis 
posed,  he  had  no  reason  to  apprehend  that  they  would 
commence  unprovoked  hostilities.  The  cavalry  which 
he  took  over,  whilst  it  tended  to  impress  those  people 
with  the  deepest  awe  and  veneration,  was  fully  suffi. 
cient  for  the  security  of  the  new  colony,  if  the  friend 
ship  of  the  natives  had  been  sincerely  meant  to  be  cul 
tivated  by  a  kind  and  equitable  deportment  ;  but  to 
treat  them  as  a  free  people  was  insonsistent  with  the 
views  which  led  to  planting  a  colony  ;  for  as  the  grand 
incentive  to  undertake  distant  voyages  was  the  hope 
of  acquiring  gold,  so,  as  Columbus  had  seen  some 
worn  as  ornaments  by  the  natives,  and  had  been  in 
formed  that  the  mountainous  parts  of  the  country 
yielded  that  precious  metals,  he  had  excited  expecta 
tions  in  his  employers,  and  in  the  nation  at  large, 
which  both  his  interest  and  ambition  compelled  him 
as  far  as  possible  to  realize.  The  Spaniards  could  not 
obtain  gold  without  the  assistance  of  the  natives,  and 
those  were  constitutionally  so  indolent  that  no  allure 
ments  of  presents  or  gratification  could  excite  them 
to  labor.  To  rescue  himself  therefore  from  dis 
grace  and  to  secure  further  support,  he  seems  dclib- 


If  DISCOVERT     OF     AMERICA. 

erately  to  have  devoted  a  harmless  race  of  mea  to 
slaughter  and  slavery.  Such  as  survived  the  mas 
sacre  of  that  dreadful  day  and  preserved  their  free 
dom  fled  into  the  mountains  and  inaccessible  parts 
of  the  island,  which  not  yielding  them  sufficient 
means  of  subsistence,  they  were  compelled  to  obtain 
a  portion  of  food  from  their  cruel  pursuers,  by  pro 
curing  gold  dust  in  order  to  support  life  !  a  tribute 
being  imposed  on  them  which  was  rigorously  exact 
ed.  Those  wretched  remaias  of  a  free  people,  thus 
driven  from  fruitfulness  to  amenity  ;  compelled  to 
labour  for  the  support  of  life  ;  a  prey  to  despon 
dency, which  the  recollection  of  their  former  happiness 
sharpened,  and  which  their  hopeless  situation  render 
ed  insupportable,  died  in  great  numbers,  the  innocent 
but  unrevenged  victims  of  European  avarice.  Such 
are  the  facts  which  have  been  admitted  ;  yet,  strange 
contradiction  !  Columbus  is  celebrated  for  his  hu 
manity  and  goodness  !  But  should  he  not  rather  be 
considered  as  a  most  consummate  dissembler  ;  pro 
fessing  moderation  whilst  he  meditates  subversion; 
and,  like  most  of  the  heroes  and  conquerors  whom 
history  records,  renouncing  every  principle  of  justice 
and  humanity  when  they  stopped  the  career  of  his 
ambition  !  Ferdinand  Columbus,  his  soon  and  biogra 
pher,  has,  with  great  address,  covered  the  shame  of 
his  father,  whilst  the  admiring  world  has  been  little 
disposed  to  censure  a  man,  the  splendor  of  whose  ac 
tions  so  powerfully  fascinates  and  dazzles. 


CHA*.  It. 
LANDING  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS. 

The  English,  conducted  by  John  Cabot,  in  the 
year  1497,  found  the  way  to  North  America  soon  af 
ter  Columbus  had  successfully  crossed  the  Atlantic  ; 
but  as  the  torrents  in  that  country  brought  down  no 
gold,  and  the  Indians  were  not  bedecked  with  any 
costly  ornaments,  no  attempts  were  made  to  explore 
the  country  for  a  century  after  its  discovery.  Sir 
Francis  Drake,  who  traversed  the  whole  circumfer 
ence  of  the  globe  in  one  voyage,  and  in  one  ship, 
which  had  never  been  achieved  before,  when  after 
ward  annoying  the  Spaniards  in  the  West  Indies,  and 
on  the  main,  gained  some  knowledge  of  the  eastern 
shore  of  the  northern  continent,  as  he  had  before  of 
the  western  parts  about  the  same  parrallel.  Sir 
Walter  Raleigh,  however,  was  the  first  navigator  who 
explored  the  coast,  bestowed  on  it  a  name,  and  at* 
tempted  to  settle  a  colony. 

At  that  time  colonization  made  no  part  of  the  sys 
tem  of  government,  so  that  there  were  few  stimulants 
to  abandon  a  native  soil  for  the  purpose  of  seeking 
possessions  in  another  hemisphere.  At  length  a  pow 
erful  incentive  arose,  stronger  than  the  influence  of 
kings,  than  the  love  of  ^ase,  than  the  dread  of  mis 
ery.  Religion,  which  haid  long  been  converted  into 
the  most  powerful  engine  which  human  subtlety  ever 
made  use  of  to  subjugate  tiie  mass  of  mankind,  no 
sooner  ceased  to  be  perverted,  than  by  its  own 
proper  force  it  compel^  large  bodies  of  people  to 
renounce  every  present  ejsjoyment,  the  instinctive 
k>Veofa  native  soil,  faqted' habits,  and  dearest  oon 
3 


14        LANDING  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS. 

nexions,  and  to  settle  in  the  dreary  wilds  of  a  far  dis 
tant  continent. 

When  England,  by  a  very  singular  concurrence  of 
circumstances,  threw  off  the  papal  yoke,  state  policy 
so  predominated  in  the  measure,  that  the  consciences 
of  men  were  still  required  to  bend  to  the  discipline, 
conform  to  the  ceremonials,  and  to  assent  to  the  doc 
trines  which  the  government  powers  established.  Al 
though  a  dissent  from  the  church  of  Rome    was  con 
sidered     as    meritorious,     yet    a     dissent    from  the 
church  of  England  was  held  to  be  heretical,  and  an 
offence  to  be  punished  by  the  civil  magistrate.     The 
human  mind  somewhat  awakened  from  a  suspension 
of  its  powers  by  a  Wickliffe,  further  enlightened  by 
an    Erasmus   and  Melanthon,  and  at  length   called 
forth  into  energy  by  the  collision  of  those  two    ar 
dent   and  daring  spirits,   Luther   and    Calvin,  then 
began  to  bend  all  its    attention  towards  religious  in 
quiries  ;  and  exercised  all  its  powers  in  such  pur 
suits.      Hence  arose  a   vast  diversity   of  opinions, 
which  gave   rise    to  numerous  sects   and  denomina 
tions    of  Christians  :  but    as    the   Protestant  estab- 
ment  in  England  held  it  essential  to  preserve  a  unity 
of  faith,    those  novel  opinions     obtained     no  more 
quarter  there  than  under  papal  power. 

In  the  year  1610,  a  company  of  the  persecuted 
religionists,  composing  the  church  of  a  Mr.  Robin 
son,  having  previously  determined  to  move  to  a 
country  where  they  might  be  enabled  to  worship 
God,  agreeable  to  the  dictates  of  their  consciences, 
emigrated  to  Holland,  and  settled  in  the  city  of  Ley- 
den  ;  where  they  continued  to  reside  until  the  year 
1620.  Although  the  ecclesiastical  laws  of  Holland 
did  not  at  this  sanction  or  condemn  the  principles  of 
any  particular  sect  of  Christians,  yet  great  were  the 
disadvantages  under  which  the  emigrants  labored  ; 
for  notwithstanding  the  Dutch  gave  them  a  welcome 
reception,  and  manifested  a  disposition  to  treat  them 
\vith  great  respect;  they  never  could  be  prevailed 


LANDING    OF    OUH    FOREFATHERS.  IS 

upon  by  the  former  to  conform  to  their  mode  of  wor 
ship,  or  to  renounce  principles  which  the  English 
conceived  destructive  to  moral  society  ;  nor  did  the 
emigrants  here  succeed  in  other  respects  agreeahle  to 
their  views.  So  far  from  increasing  their  little  flock 
they  found  that  in  the  course  of  ten  years  they  had 
experienced  a  diminution  of  more  than  one  half  their 
original  number  ;  many  in  consequence  of  the  impov- 
ished  state  of  the  country,had  spent  their  estates  and 
returned  to  England.  Hence  it  was  that  the  remain 
ing  few  formed  the  determination  of  attempting  once 
more  to  seek  a  country  better  adapted  to  their  pious 
purposes,  and  such  as  would  promise  a  more  fruitful 
abode  to  their  offspring.  To  some  the  unexplored  parts 
of  America  was  proposed,  and  after  a  day  or  two  set 
apart  for  solemn  humiliation  and  praise  to  Almighty 
God,  it  was  resolved  that  a  part  of  the  church  should 
first  emigrate  to  America,  and  if  there  meeting  with 
favorable  reception,  should  prepare  an  abode  for  tha 
remainder. 

They  easily  obtained  a  royal  grant  of  a  very  ex 
tensive  tract  of  land  (now  called  New-England) 
whither  they  intended  to  repair,  not  to  amass  wealth 
or  to  exterminate  the  inhabitants,  but  to  subsist  by 
industry,  to  purchase  security  by  honorable  inter 
course  with  the  natives,  and  to  acquire  strength  un 
der  the  auspices  of  freedom. 

They  made  purchase  of  two  small  ships, and  on  the 
5th  August,I6k),  having  repaired  to  Plymouth,  Eng. 
for  the  purpose,  were  in  readiness  to  embark  ;  pre 
vious  to  which,  they  were  very  affectionately  address 
ed  by  their  pious  pastor,  Dr.  Robinson,  who  in  fer 
vent  prayer  commended  them  all  to  the  holy  keeping 
of  Him,  who  rules  the  destinies  of  all  men. 

At  11,  A.  M.  with  a  fair  wind, they  set  sail  and  bid 
adieu  forever  to  their  native  country.  Nothing  ma 
terial  occurred  to  obstruct  them  until  the  25th,  when 
they  experienced  a  tremendous  gale,  which  threaten 
ed  them  with  instant  destruction  !  for  three  days  sue- 


16  LA1VD1KG    OF   OUR    FOREFATHERS. 

cessivcly  were  tossed  about  at  the  mercy  of  the  waves 
The  ships  were,  however,  enabled  to  keep  company 
until  the  storm  had  somewhat  abated,  when  those  on 
board  one  of  them  conceived  their  vessel  no  longer 
sea- worthy,  abandoned  her,  and  were  received  on 
board  the  other. 

On  the  10th  November,  they  to  their  inexpressible 
joy,  discovered  land,  which  proved  to  be  that  of  Cape 
Cod,  where  they  with  much  difficulty  the  day  follow 
ing  succeeding  in  landing.  As  soon  as  on  shore,  they 
fell  on  their  knees  and  returned  thanks  to  the  Al 
mighty  for  enabling  them  to  reach  in  safety  their  place 
of  destination.  But  although  they  had  thus  far  suc 
ceeded  in  their  views,  although  they  had  been  enabled 
to  flee  from  persecution,  to  cross  a  wide  and  boister 
ous  ocean,  what  was  their  situation  now  !  Sojourn- 
ers  in  a  foreign  land  !  Traversing  the  broken  un- 
wrought  shores  of  a  wild  and  unexplored  country  ! 
They  found  here  no  friends  to  welcome,  or  house  to 
shelter  them  from  the  inclemency  of  an  approaching 
winter  ;  on  one  side  they  beheld  nought  but  a  hideous 
and  desolate  wilderness,  the  habitation  of  wild  and 
ferocious  animals,  and  probably  the  abode  of  a  race 
of  beings  not  less  wild  and  unmerciful  !  On  the 
other,  the  briny  ocean  foaming,  and  with  tremend 
ous  roar  dashing  against  the  huge  and  projecting 
rocks,  which  as  lar  as  the  eye  could  perceive,  marked 
the  sea  beaten  shores. 

After  succeeding,  with  much  difficulty^  discover 
ing  a  harbor  in  which  their  ship  could  ride  with  safe 
ty,  they  made  choice  of  ten  of  the  most  resolute  of 
their  number  to  explore  the  adjacent  country,  and 
discover,  if  possible,  a  more  convenient  place  for  their 
future  abode  ;  who  on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  pro 
vided  with  a  musket  each,  set  out  for  this  purpose. 
They  had  not  penetrated  the  woods  above  three  miles, 
when  they  discovered  five  of  the  natives,  which  were 
the  first  seen  by  them  since  their  arrival.  They  were 
clothed  with  the  skins  of  animals,  and  armed  with 
bows  and  arrows.  The  English,  with  signs  of  friend- 


LANDING  OF  OUR  FOREFATHERS.        17 

ship,  made  toward  them  but  were  no  sooner  discover 
ed  by  the    savages,  than  they,  with  a  terrible  yell  fled 
with  the  greatest  precipitation.     Night  approaching, 
the  English    erected  a  temporary  encampment,  and 
after  placing  their  sentinels,  retired  to  rest.      Eai*ly 
the  ensuing  morning  they   continued  their  journey, 
following  for  a  considerable  distance  the  tracks  of  the 
five   Indians    above   mentioned,  in  hopes,  thereby  to 
discover  their  habitations, and  obtain  therefrom  a  fresh 
supply  of  provisions,   of  which   they  were  much  in 
want;  but  in  this  they  did  not   fully    succeed.     At 
about  noon  they  arrived  at  an  extensive  plat  of  clear 
ground,   near  which   they  discovered  a  pond  of  fresh 
water,  and  several    hillocks  of  raised   earth,  which 
they    conjectured    to  be  the  graves  of  the  Indians. 
Proceeding  a   little  farther  west  they    discovered  a 
large  quantity  of  stubble,  which  they  imagined  to  be 
that  of  some  kind  of  grain  peculiar  to  the  country  ; 
they  also  discovered  a  spot  where   they  suspected  an 
Indian  hut  had  recently  stood,  as  they  found  near  by 
some  planks  curiously  wrought,  and  a  small  earthern 
pot.     Proceeding  still  farther  they  discovered  a  num 
ber  more  of  the  little  hillocks  of  broken  ground  as 
above  described,  and  which  they  now    began  to  sus 
pect  to  be  the  place  of  deposit  of  something  more 
than  the  dead  !   Curiosity  leading  them  to  examine 
more  closely  one  of  these,  they  to  their  great  surprise 
found  it  to  contain  a  large  quantity  of  the  Indian  grain 
(corn)  above  mentioned  1   It  was  still  in  the  ear,   and 
excited  to  no  small  degree  the  curiosity  of  the  En 
glish,  as  they  had  never  seen  any  thing  of  the  kind. 
By  a  few  of  the  company  the  discovery   was  deemed 
of  importance,  but  by  others,  who  had   attempted   to 
eat  of  the  corn  in  its  raw  state,  it  was  pronounced  in 
different  food  of  little  value  !   They,    however,    con 
cluded  it  best  to  return  and  make  known  the  discove 
ry  to  their  brethren. 

Having  succeeded  with  some  difficulty  in  reaching 
the  place  from  which  they  started,  they  were  met  by 
those  whom  thev  had  left  behind  with  the  most  un- 


IS  LANDING    OF    OUR    FOREFATHES- 

speakable  joy  and  satisfaction,  to  whom  they  ex 
hibited  a  specimen  of  the  grain  which  they  had  found, 
and  recommended  the  spot  from  which  it  was  procur 
ed,  as  the  most  convenient  and  suitable  at  which  to 
abide  for  the  approaching  winter.  The  company  ac 
cordingly,  on  the  25th,  proceeded  for  and  in  safety 
reached  the  place  above  mentioned,  with  which  being 
so  much  pleased,  they  termed  New  Plymouth,  in  re 
membrance  of  the  port  at  which  they  last  embarked 
in  Europe.  Here  they  concluded  to  abide  until  such 
time  as  further  discoveries  could  be  made.  They  e- 
reeled  a  few  temporary  huts,  sufficient  to  shelter  them 
from  the  weather,  and  soon  after  by  mutual  consent 
entered  into  a  solemn  combination,  as  a  body  politic  ; 
and  on  the  10th  December,  assembled  to  form  them 
selves  such  a  government  and  laws,  as  they 
should  deem  the  most  just  and  equitable  ;  previous  to 
which,  the  following  instrument  was  drawn  up,  which 
being  first  read,  and  assented  to  by  the  company,  re 
ceived  their  signatures,  to  wit  : 

Ci  In  the  name  of  God,  amen.  We,  whose  names 
are  underwritten,  the  loyal  subjects  of  our  dread  sov 
ereign,  King  James,  by  the  grace  of  God,  King  of 
Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  -md  Defender  of 
the  Faith,  &,c.  having  undertaken  for  the  glory  of 
God,  advancement  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  honor 
of  our  king  and  country,  a  voyage  to  plant  the  first 
colony  in  the  north  parts  of  America,  do  by  these 
presents  solemnly  and  mutually  in  the  presence  of 
God-  and  one  another,  covenant  and  combine  our 
selves  together  into  a  civil  body  politic  for  our  own 
convenience  and  the  preservation  of  the  ends  afore 
said  ;  and  by  virtue  hereof,  do  enact,  constitute  and 
frame  such  just  and  equal  laws,  and  ordinances,  acts, 
constitutions  and  officers,  from  time  to  time,  as  shall 
be  thought  most  convenient  for  the  general  good  of 
the  colony,  unto  which  we  promise  all  due  submis 
sion  and  obedience.  In  witness  whereof  we  have 
hereunto  subscribed  our  names,  at  New  Plymouth, 
on  the  10th  day  of  December,  A  I> 


LANDING    OF    OUR    FOREFATHERS 


19 


John  Carver, 
William  Bradford, 
Edward  Winslow, 
William  Brewster, 
Isaac  Allerton, 
Miles  Standish, 
Joseph  Fletcher, 
John  Goodman, 
Samuel  Fuller, 
Christopher  Martin, 
William  White, 
Richard  Warren, 
John  Howland, 
Stephen  Hopkins, 
Digery  Priest, 
Thomas  Williams, 
Gilbert  Winslow, 
Edmund  Morgeson, 
Peter  Brown, 


John  Alden, 
John  Turner, 
Francis  Eaton, 
James  Chilton, 
John  Craxston, 
John  Billington, 
Richard  Bitteridge. 
George  Soule, 
Edward  Tilley, 
John  Tilley,  " 
Thomas  Rogers, 
Thomas  Tinkej-, 
John  Ridgdale, 
Edward  Fuller, 
Richard  Clarke, 
Richard  Gardner, 
John  Allerton, 
Thomas  English, 
Edward  Leister. 


The  company  next  proceeded  by  ballot  to  the  choice 
of  a  Governor,  and  on  counting  the  votes  it  appear 
ed  that  John  Carver  had  the  greatest  number,  and 
was  declared  chosen  for  one  year. 

On  the  19th,  Dec.,  Mrs.  Susannah  White,  the 
wife  of  Wm.  White,  was  delivered  of  a  son,  which 
was  the  first  born  of  the  English  in  New-England. 

On  the  21st  of  the  same  month  it  was  agreed  by  the 
company  to  despatch  a  second  exploring  party  by  wa 
ter,  to  make,  if  possible,  further  discoveries.  The  per 
sons  selected  for  this  purpose  were  Governor  Carver, 
Messrs.  Bradford,  Winslow,Standish, Howland,  War 
ren,  Hopkins, A llerton,Tilley,Clarke,Tinker,  Turner 
and  Brown.  They  embarked  at  10,  A.  M.  with  a  view 
of  circumnavigating  the  deep  bay  of  Cape  Cod.  On 
the  morning  of  the  23d  they  discovered  a  large  party 
of  the  natives  on  shore,  who  were  employed  in  cutting 
up  a  fish  resembling  a  grampus.  By  the  order  of  Gov. 
Carver,,  the  English  made  immediately  for  the  shore 


tO  LANDING     OF     OUi:     FOREFATHERS. 

but  wfre  no  sooner  discovered  by  the  Indian?,  ihau 
they,  with  a  yell  peculiar  to  savages,  deserted  their 
fish  and  (led  with  precipitancy  !  the  English  landed 
and  took  possession  of  the  fish,  which  having  en 
kindled  ?i  fire,  they  cooked  and  found  to  be  excellent 
food.  They  concluded  to  continue  encamped  here 
through  the  night,  and  while  employed  (a  few  rods 
from  their  boat  in  which  their  arms  were  deposited) 
in  erecting  a  temporary  dwelling  for  the  purpose 
they  were  suddenly  attacked  by  a  large  party  of  the 
natives,  who  discharged  a  shower  of  arrows  among 
them.  The  English,  nearly  panic  struck  at  so  sud 
den  and  unexpected  an  onset,  were  on  the  eve  of  re 
treating  to  their  boat,  when  they  were  reminded  by 
their  governor,  (a  brave  and  experienced  man)  of  the 
importance  of  facing  the  enemy,  and  maintaining 
their  ground,  as  a  precipitate  flight  might  prove 
their  total  destruction.  In  the  mean  time  two  or 
three  of  the  company  were  dispatched  for  their  arras 
and  having  obtained  them,  the  whole  were  ordered 
to  form  a  close  body,  and  proceed  with  moderate 
pace  for  the  boat,  and  if  hard  pushed  by  the  natives 
to  face  about  and  give  them  the  contents  of  their 
muskets.  The  Indians  perceiving  the  English  re 
tiring,  rushed  from  their  strong  coverts,  and  were  on 
the  point  of  attacking  them  in  the  rear  with  clubs, 
hatchets,  stones  #c.  when  they  received  the  fire  of 
the  latter,  which  brought  three  or  four  of  them  to 
the  ground.  The  Indians  halted,  viewed  for  a  few 
moments,  with  marks  of  astonishment  and  surprise, 
their  wounded  brethren,  and  then  with  one  general 
united  yell,  which  probably  might  have  been  heard 
to  the  distance  of  three  miles,  fled  in  every  direction! 
This  was  the  first  engagement  between  the  English 
and  natives  in  New-England,  and  probably  for  the 
first  time  that  the  latter  had  ever  heard  the  report  of 
a  musket. 

The  English  embarked  and  returned   immediately 
to  New  Plymouth,    having  been    absent  four  days. 


LANDING    OF    OUR    FOREFATHERS.  21 

without  making  any  important v  discoveries.  The 
company  despairing  of  making  any  discovery  of  im 
portance  during  the  winter,  concluded  to  remain  at 
their  winter  quarters  until  the  spring  ensuing.  The 
winter  proved  an  uncommonly  tedious  one,  during 
which  a  great  proportion  of  the  company  sickened 
and  died  !  Unaccustomed  to  hardship,  and  deprived  of 
many  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  they  fell  victims  to 
the  inclemency  of  the  season.  Being  thus  reduced 
to  a  very  small  number,  they  would  have  fallen  a  ve 
ry  easy  prey  to  the  savages,  had  the  latter,  relying 
on  the  superiority  of  their  strength,  attacked  them, 
but  the  natives  having  by  bitter  experience  learned 
the  effects  of  their  fire  arms,  although  they  were  dai 
ly  seen  by  the  English  at  a  distance,  not  one  of  them 
could  be  prevailed  upon  to  approach  them  within 
gun  shot,  until  about  the  20th  March,  1621,  when  to 
their  great  surprise  an  Indian  came  boldly  up  to 
them  and  addressed  them  in  broken  English  !  He 
informed  them  that  he  belonged  to  an  eastern  part  of 
the  country,  and  was  acquainted  with  a  number  of 
their  countrymen,  who  came  frequently  there  to  pro 
cure  fish,  and  of  whom  he  learned  to  speak  their  lan 
guage. 

This  Indian  proved  very  serviceable  to  the  compa 
ny  in  supplying  them  with  provisions  ;  in  acquainting 
them  with  the  state  of  the  country,  the  number  and 
strength  of  the  natives,  and  the  name  of  their  chief 
sachem,  to  whom  the  land  which  they  improved  be 
longed.  The  Indian  being  dismissed  with  many  pre 
sents  and  friendly  assurances,  the  day  following  re 
turned  accompanied  by  the  grand  sachem  (Massasoit) 
and  a  number  of  his  chief  men,  to  whom  the  English 
gave  a  welcome  reception,  presenting  them  with 
many  trinkets  which  the  natives  esteemed  of  great 
value.  With  Massasoit  a  treaty  was  proposed  and 
concluded  the  day  following,  in  which  it  was  stipula 
ted  that  the  English  and  natives  were  to  live  amica 
bly  together,  and  that  the  latter  were  to  furnish  the, 
4 


22  LANDING    OF    OUR     FOREFATHERS. 

former  with  provision,  and  to  receive  pay  therefor 
such  articles  as  the  former  were  willing  to  part  \vith  ; 
which  terms  both  parties  continued  ever  after  faithful 
to  fulfil. 

In  May,  1621,  the  English  planted  their  first  corn 
in  New-England.  In  July  following  their  worthy 
Governor  sickened  and  died  !  His  death  was  great 
ly  lamented  by  those  of  the  company  who  survived 
him,  and  by  whom  he  was  interred  with  all  possible 
solemnity.  His  loving  consort  survived  him  but  a  few 
weeks.  In  August  the  company  made  choice  of  Mr. 
Willian?  Bradford  to  fill  up  the  vacancy  occasioned  by 
the  death  of  Gov.  Carver. 

New-England  from  this  time  began  to  be  rapidly 
peopled  by  the  Europeans.  So  great  was  the  em 
igration  from  the  mother  country,  that  in  less  than 
six  years  from  the  time  that  the  first  adventurers  land 
ed  at  New  Plymouth,  there  were  seven  considerable 
towns  built  and  settled  in  Massachusetts. 

In  the  summer  of  1627  Mr.  Endicott,  one  of  the 
original  planters,  was  sent  over  to  begin  the  planta 
tion  at  Naumkeag,  (now  Salem.)  The  June  follow 
ing  about  200  persons,  furnished  with  four 
ministers^  nowr  came  over  and  joined  Mr.  Endicott's 
colony  ;  and  the  next  year  they  formed  themselves 
into  a  regular  church.  This  was  the  first  church 
gathered  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  second  in  New- 
England.  The  church  at  Plymouth  had  been  gath 
ered  eight  years  before.  In  1629,  a  large  embarka 
tion  was  projected  by  the  company  in  England.  At 
the  request  of  a  number  of  respectable  gentlemen, 
most  or  whom  afterwards  came  over  to  New-England, 
the  general  consent  of  the  company  was  obtained, 
that  the  government  should  be  transferred  and  set 
tled  in  Massachusetts. 

In  1630,  seventeen  ships  from  different  ports  in 
England,  arrived  at  Massachusetts,  with  more 
than  1500  passengers,  among  whom  were  many  per 
sons  of  distinction.  Incredible  were  the  hardships 


LANDING     OP     OUR    FOREFATHERS.  23 

they  endured.  Reduced  to  a  scanty  pittance  of  pro 
visions,  and  that  of  a  kind  to  which  they  had  not 
been  accustomed,  numbers  sickened  and  died,  so  that 
before  the  end  of  the  year  they  had  lost  200  of  their 
number.  About  this  time  settlements  were  made  at 
Charlestown,  Medford,  Boston,  Dorchester,  Cam 
bridge  and  Roxbury. 

In  the  years  1632  and  1633  great  additions  were 
made  to  the  colony.  Such  was  the  rage  for  emigra 
tion  to  New-England,  that  the  King  and  counsel 
thought  fit  to  issue  an  order  February  7,  1633,  to 
prevent  it.  The  order,  however  was  not  strictly 
obeyed. 

In  1635  the  foundation  of  a  new  colony  was  laid 
in  Connecticut,  adjoining  this  state.  Of  this  river 
and  the  country  adjacent  Lord  Say  and  Lord  Brook 
were  the  proprietors  ,  and  at  the  mouth  of  it  a  fort 
by  their  direction  was  built,  which  in  honor  to  them 
was  called  Saybrook  fort.  New-Haven  was  settled 
soon  after  the  building  of  this  fort,  as  was  a  number 
of  other  towns  of  considerable  note  in  Connecticut. 
Some  difficulty  arising  among  those  who  first  settled 
at  New  Plymouth,  a  part  of  the  inhabitants,  to  pre 
vent  any  serious  consequences,  removed  to  a  pleas 
ant  and  fertile  island  to  the  south  west  of  Cape  Cod, 
now  called  Rhode  Island,  while  others  settled  at 
Providence,  Warwick,  Taunton,  &c.  Thus  it  was 
that  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  a  great  part  of  N. 
England,  which  so  late  was  an  uncultivated  forest, 
resounding  with  yells  of  savages  and  beasts  of  prey, 
became  the  place  of  abode  of  our  persecuted  fore 
fathers. 

But  this  newly  settled  country  was  not  to  be  ac 
quired  without  bloodshed.  The  natives,  although 
they  at  first  appeared  harmless  and  well  disposed 
toward  the  new  settlers,  from  the  rapid  increase  and 
too  frequent  aggression  of  the  latter,  jealousy  of  the 
former  was  excited,  which  they  soon  began  more 
openly  to  manifest  as  will  appear  by  what  follows 


CHAP.  III. 

COMMENCEMENT  OF  HOSTILITIES 
WITH  THE  NATIVES. 

THERE  was  a  tribe  of  Indians  which   inhabited  the 
borders  of  Connecticut  river  from  its  mouth  to  within 
a  few  miles    of  Hartford,    called    Pequots,  a  fierce, 
cruel  and  warlike  tribe,  and  the    inveterate  enemies 
of  the  whites  ;  never  failing  to  improve  every  oppor 
tunity  to  exercise  toward  them  the  most  wanton  acts 
of  barbarity.       In    June,   1634,    they  treacherously 
murdered  a  Capt.  Stone  and  Capt.  Norton,  who  had 
been  long  in  the  habit  of  visiting    them   occasionally 
to  trade.     In  Angust,  1635,  they  inhumanly  murder 
ed  a  Mr.  Weeks  and  his  whole  family,  consisting  of 
a  wife  and  6  children, and  soon  after  murdered  the  wife 
and  children  of  a  Mr.  Williams,residing  near  Hartford. 
Finding,  however,  that  by    their  unprovoked  acts  of 
barbarity  they  had  enkindled  the    resentment  of  the 
English  ;    who  aroused  to  a  sense    of  their  danger, 
were  making  preparations  to   exterminate  this  cruel 
tribe,  the  Pequots  dispatched  messengers  with  gifts  to 
the  governor  of  the  colonies,  the  Hon.  Josiah  Win- 
slow.     He  being,  however,  inflexible  in  his  determi 
nation  to  revenge  the  death  of  his    friends,  dismissed 
these  messengers  without  any  answer.     The  Pequots 
finding  the   English  resolute   and    determined,   and 
fearing  the    consequences  of  their  resentment,   the 
second  time  dispatched  messengers  with  a  large  quan 
tity  of  wampum,  (Indian  money)  as  a  present  to  the 
governor  and  council  ;  with  whom  the  latter  had  a 
considerable  conference,  and  at  length   concluded  a 
peace  on  the  following  terms  ; 


INDIAN     WARS. 


25 


ARTICLES. 

I.  The  Pequots  shall  deliver  up   to    the   English 
those  of  their  tribe  that  are  guilty    of  the  deaths  of 
their  countrymen. 

II.  The  Pequots  shall  relinquish  to  the  English 
all  their  right  and  title  to  the  lands  lying  within  the 
colony  of  Connecticut. 

III.  The  English  if  disposed  to  trade    with  the 
Pequots,  shall  be  treated  as  friends. 

To  these  articles  the  Pequots  readily  agreed,  and 
promised  faithfully  to  adhere,  and  at  the  same  time 
expressed  a  desire  to  make  peace  with  the  Narra- 
gansett  Indians,  with  whom  they  were  then  at  war. 

Soon  after  the  conclusion  of  peace  with  the  Pe 
quots,  the  English,  to  put  their  fair  promises  to  the 
test,  sent  a  small  boat  into  the  river,  on  the  borders 
of  which  they  resided,  with  the  pretence  of  trade  ; 
but  so  great  was  the  treachery  of  the  natives,  that 
after  succeeding  by  fair  promises  in  enticing  the  crew 
of  the  boat  on  shore,  they  were  by  them  inhumanly 
murdered. 

The  Pequots  despairing  of  again  deceiving  the 
English  in  the  manner  they  had  lately  done,  now 
threw  off  the  mask  of  friendship,  and  avowing  them 
selves  the  natural  enemies  of  the  English,  commen 
ced  open  hostilities  against  them,  and  barbarously 
murdering  all  that  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into 
their  hands.  A  few  families  were  at  this  time  set 
tled  at  or  near  Weathersfield,  Con.  the  whole  of 
whom  were  carried  away  captives  by  them.  Two 
girls,  the  daughters  of  Mr.  Gibbons,  of  Hartford, 
were  in  the  most  brutal  manner  put  to  death.  After 
gashing  their  flesh  with  their  knives,  the  Indians 
filled  their  wounds  with  hot  embers,  in  the  meantime 
mimicking  their  dying  groans. 

The  Pequots  encouraged  by  the  trifling  resistance 
made  by  the  English  to  their  wanton  acts  of  barbar 
ity,  on  the  20th  June,  1636,  beseiged  fort  Saybrook, 
in  which  there  were  about  twenty  men  stationed 


26  INDIAN      WARS. 

The  Indians  were  to  the  number  of  about  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty.  They  surrounded  and  furiously  at 
tacked  the  fort  at  midnight,  and  horribly  yelling  and 
mimicking  the  dying  groans  of  such  as  had  fallen 
victims  to  their  barbarity  ;  but  the  English  being 
fortunately  provided  with  a  piece  or  two  of  cannon, 
caused  their  savage  enemies  to  groan  in  reality,  who 
after  receiving  two  or  three  deadly  fires  from  the 
beseiged,  retreated,  leaving  behind  them,  dead  or 
mortally  wounded,  about  twenty  of  their  number. 
The  English  sustained  no  loss  in  the  attack. 

The  Governor  and  council  of  Massachusetts  colo 
ny,  alarmed  at  the  bold  and  daring  conduct  of  the 
Pequots,  and  on  the  20th  of  August  despatched 
Capt.  Endicott,  of  Salem,  with  ninety  men  to  avenge 
the  murders  committed  by  them  unless  they  should 
consent  to  deliver  up  the  murderers,  and  make  rep 
aration  for  the  injuries  the  English  had  sustained. 
Capt.  Endicott,  was  directed  to  proceed  first  to  Block 
Island,  then  inhabited  by  the  Pequots;  put  the  men 
to  the  sword  and  take  possession  of  the  Island.  The 
women  and  children  were  spared.  Thence  he  was 
to  proceed  to  the  Pequot  country,  demand  the  mur 
ders  of  the  English,  a  thousand  fathom  of  wampum 
and  a  number  of  their  children  as  hostages, 

Capt.  Endicot  sailed  from  Boston  on  the  morning 
of  the  20th.  When  he  arrived  at  Block  Island,  about 
sixty  Indians  appeared  on  the  shore  and  opposed  his 
landing.  His  men  soon  however  effected  a  landing, 
and  after  a  little  skirmishing  drove  the  Indians  into 
the  wood  where  they  could  not  be  found. 

The  English  continued  two  or  three  days  on  the 
island,  in  which  time  they  destroyed  100  wigwams, 
and  about  50  canoes,  when  they  proceeded  for  the 
Pequot  country.  When  they  arrived  in  Pequot  har 
bor,  Capt.  Kndicott  acquainted  the  enemy  with  his 
designs  and  determination  to  avenge  the  cruelties 
practised  upon  his  countrymen.  In  a  few  moments 
nearly  500  of  the  enemy  collected  on  the  shores  ;~ 
but  as  soon  as  they  were  made  acquainted  with  the 


INDIAN    WARS.  21 

hostile  views  of  the  English,  they  hastily  withdrew, 
and  secreted  themselves  in  swamps  and  ledges  inac 
cessible  to  the  troops.  Capt.  Endicott  landed  his 
men  on  both  sides  the  harbor,  burnt  their  wigwams, 
and  destroyed  their  canoes,  and  killed  an  Indian  or 
two,  and  then  returned  to  Boston  !  Enough  indeed 
had  been  done  to  exasperate  but  nothing  to  subdue 
a  warlike  enemy.  Sasacus,'  chief  of  the  Pequots  and 
his  captains,  were  men  of  great  and  independent  spir 
its  :  they  had  conquered  and  governed  the  jnations 
around  them  without  control  ;  they  viewed  the  Eng 
lish  as  strangers  and  mere  intruders,  who  had  no 
right  to  the  country  nor  to  control  its  original  propri 
etors.  Independent  princes  and  sovereigns,  they 
had  made  settlements  at  Connecticut  without  their 
consent,  and  brought  home  the  Indian  kings  whom 
they  had  conquered,  and  restored  them  their  author 
ity  and  lands.  They  had  built  a  fort,  and  were 
making  a  settlement  without  their  approbation  in 
their  very  neighborhood.  Indeed  they  had  now  pro 
ceeded  to  attack  and  ravage  the  country.  The  Pe 
quots  in  consequence  breathed  nothing  but  war  and 
revenge  :  they  were  determined  to  extirpate,  or 
drive  all  the  English  from  New-England.  For  this 
purpose  they  conceived  the  plan  of  uniting  the  in- 
dians  generally  against  them  ;  they  spared  no  art 
nor  pains  to  make  peace  with  the  Narragansetts, 
and  to  engage  them  in  the  war  against  the  English, 
to  whom  they  represented  that  they  were  bad  men, 
and  the  natural  enemies  of  the  natives,  and  who  also 
were  foreigners,  overspreading  the  country,  and  de 
priving  the  original  inhabitants  of  their  ancient 
rights  and  possessions  ;  that  unless  effectual  means 
were  immediately  provided  to  prevent  it,  they  would 
soon  dispossess  the  original  proprietors,  and  become 
the  lords  of  the  continent.  They  insisted  that  by  a 
general  combination  they  could  either  destroy  or 
drive  them  from  the  country  ;  that  there  would  be 
no  necessity  of  coming  to  open  battles  ;  that  by  kill 
ing  their  cattle,  firing  their  houses,  laying  ambushes 
on  their  roads,  in  their  fields,  and  wherever  they 


2S  INDIAN    WARS. 

/ 

could  surprise  and  destroy  them,  they  might  accom 
plish  their  object  ;  they  represented  that  if  the  En 
glish  should  effect  the  destruction  of  the  Pequots, 
they  would  also  soon  destroy  the  Narragansetts.  So 
just  and  politic  were  these  representations,  that  noth 
ing  but  that  thirst  for  revenge,  which  inflames  the 
savage  heart,  could  have  resisted  their  influence. 
Indeed  it  is  said  that  for  some  time  the  Narragansetts 
hesitated. 

The  governor  of  the  colonies,  to  prevent  an  union 
between  these  savage  nations,  and  to  strengthen  the 
peace  between  the  Narragansett  Indians  and  the 
colonies,  dispatched  a  messenger  to  invite  Miantin- 
omi,  their  chief  Sachem  to  Boston.  The  invitation 
was  accepted  by  Miantinomi,  and  while  at  Boston, 
with  the  governor  and  council,  entered  into  a  treaty, 
the  substance  of  which  was  as  follows  :  That 
there  should  be  a  firm  peace  maintained  between  the 
English  and  Narragansetts,  should  not  harbor  the 
enemies  of  the  English,  but  deliver  up  to  them  such 
fugitives  as  should  resort  to  them  for  safety.  The 
English  were  to  give  them  notice  when  they  went 
out  against  the  Pequots,  and  the  Narragansetts  were 
to  furnish  them  with  guides. 

In  February,  1637,  the  English  in  Connecticut  col 
ony,  represented  to  the  governor  their  desire  to  pro 
secute  more  effectually  the  war  with  the  Pequots, 
who  yet  continued  to  exeicise  toward  them  the  most 
wanton  acts  of  barbarity.  They  represented  that  on 
the  I  Oth  January  a  boat  containing  three  of  their 
countrymen  was  attacked  by  the  enemy  when  pro 
ceeding  down  the  river.  That  the  English  for  some 
time  bravely  defended  themselves,  but  were  over 
powered  by  numbers.  That  the  Indians,  when  they 
had  succeeded  in  capturing  the  boats  crew  ripped 
them  up  from  the  bottom  of  their  bellies  to  their 
throats  and  in  like  manner  split  them  down  their  backs 
and  thus  mangled,  hung  them  upon  the  trees  by  the 
river  side  !  They  represented  that  the  affairs  of  Con 
necticut  colony  at  this  moment  wore  a  most  gloomy 


INDIAN   WARS.  29 

aspect  ;  that  they  had  sustained  great  losses  in  cattle 
and  goods  the  preceding  years,  but  were  still  more 
unfortunate  the-  present  :  that  they  could  neither 
hunt  or  fish  or  cultivate  their  fields,  nor  travel  at 
home  or  abroad,  but  at  the  peril  of  their  lives  ;  that 
they  were  obliged  to  keep  a  constant  watch  by  night 
and  day,  to  go  armed  to  their  daily  labors,  and  to  the 
houses  of  public  worship  !  And  although  desirous  to 
prosecute  the  war  more  effectually  with  the  common 
enemy,  they  were  not  in  a  situation  to  do  it7  and 
therefore  humbly  prayed  for  assistance. 

The  report  of  the  horrid  and  unprovoked  cruelties 
of  the  Pequots,  practiced  upon  the  defenceless  in 
habitants  of  Connecticut  colony,  roused  the  other 
colonies  to  the  most  harmonious  and  spirited  exertions 
against  them.  Massachusetts  determined  to  send 
200  and  Plymouth  40  men  to  assist  their  unfortunate 
brethren  in  prosecuting  the  war.  Captain  Patrick 
with  40  men  was  sent  before  the  other  troops,  in  order 
that  he  might  be  enabled  seasonably  to  form  a  junc 
tion  with  the  troops  in  Connecticut^  who  notwithstand 
ing  their  weak  and  distressed  state,  engaged  to  fur 
nish  90  men. 

On  Wednesday,  the  10th  of  May,  the  Connecticut 
troops  proceeded  to  fort  Saybrook.  They  Consisted 
of  90  Englishmen  and  70  Mohegan  and  river  Indians* 
the  latter  commanded  by  Lindas,  sachem  of  the  Mo- 
hegans,  and  the  former  by  Capt.  John  Mason,  who 
was  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stone  of  Hartford, 
as  chaplain.  The  Mohegans  being  detached  from 
the  English,  on  their  way  to  Saybrookj  fell  in  with  a 
considerable  body  of  the  enemy,  whom  they  defeated. 
They  killed  22  and  took  18  of  them  prisoners. 

Among  the  prisoners  there  was  one  who  was  re 
cognized  as  a  perfidious  villian  ;  he  had  lived  in  the 
fort  some  time  before,  and  well  understood  their 
language  ;  he  remained  attached  to  their  interest  un 
til  the  commencement  of  hostilities  with  the  Pequots, 
5 


30  INDIAN 

when  be  desn •(<•<!  (he  garrison  and  joined  the  enemy, 
who  he  served  as  a  guide,  and  through  whose  instiga 
tion  many  of  the  English  had  been  captured  and  put 
to  death.  Uncas  and  his  men  insisted  upon  executing 
him  according  to  the  custom  of  their  ancestors,  and 
the  English  in  the  circumstances  in  which  they  were, 
did  not  judge  it  prudent  to  interfere.  The  Indians 
enkindled  a  fire,  near  which  they  confined  the  prison 
er  to  a  stake,  in  which  situation  he  remained  until  his- 
skin  became  parched  with  the  heat.  The  Mohegans 
then  violently  tore  him  limb  from  limb,  barbarously 
cutting  his  fiesh  in  pieces,  they  handed  it  round  from 
one  to  another,  eating  it  while  they  sung  and  danced 
round  the  fire  in  a  manner  peculiar  to  savages  !  The 
bones  and  such  parts  of  the  unfortunate  captive  as 
were  not  consumed  in  this  dreadful  repast,  were  com 
mitted  to  the  flames  and  consumed  to  ashes. 

On  the  19th,  Capt.  Mason  and  his  men  proceeded 
for  Naragansett  Bay,  at  which  place  they  safely  ar 
rived  on  the  21st.  Capt.  Mason  marched  immedi 
ately  to  the  plantation  of  Canonicus,  a  Narragansett 
sachem,  and  acquainted  him  with  his  designs,  and  im 
mediately  after  dispatched  to  Miantinomi,  to  inform 
him  likewise  of  the  expedition.  The  next  day  Mi 
antinomi  with  his  chief  counsellors  and  warriors  met 
the  English.  Capt.  Mason  informed  him  that  the 
cause  of  his  entering  his  country  with  an  armed  force 
was  to  revenge  the  injuries  which  the  Pequots  had 
done  to  the  English,  and  desired  a  free  passage  to 
their  forts  which  they  intended  to  attack.  After  a 
solemn  consultation,  in  the  Indian  manner,  Miantin 
omi  observed  that  tk  he  highly  approved  of  the  expe 
dition,  and  would  send  men  to  assist  the  English,  but 
that  they  were  too  few  in  number  to  fight  the  enemy  ; 
that  the  Pequots  were  great  warriors  and  rather 
slighted  the  English." 

Captain  Mason  landed  his  men  and  mcirched  to  the 
plantation  of  Miantinomi,  which  by  previous  agree 
ment, was  to  be  the  place  of  general  rendezvous.  In 


INDIAN    WARS.  31 

the  evening  an  Indian  runner  arrived  with  information 
that  Capt*  Patrick,  with  the  men  under  his  command 
had  arrived  at  the  plantation  of  Roger  Williams, 
in  Providence,  and  was  desirous  that  Captain  Mason 
should  postpone  his  march  until  such  time  as  he 
could  join  him.  Capt.  Mason,  after  mature  delibera 
tion,  determined  however  not  to  wait  his  arrival, 
although  a  junction  was  considered  important.  His 
men  had  been  detained  much  longer  than  was  a- 
greeable  to  their  wishes,  and  the  Mohegaas  appa 
rently  were  impatient  for  battle.  The  little  army, 
therefore,  consisting  of  90  Englishmen,  60  Mohegan 
and  river  Indians,  and  about  200  Naragansetts,  com- 
•menced  their  march  on  the  24th,  and  in  the  evening 
of  that  day  reached  Nihantick,  which  bounded  on 
the  couutry  of  the  Pequots.  Nihantick  was  the  seat 
of  a  Naraganset  sachem,  who  seemed  displeased 
•with  the  expedition,  and  would  not  suffer  the  English 
to  enter  his  fort.  Capt.  Mason  suspecting  the  treach 
ery  of  this  fellow,  placed  a  sentinel  at  night  at  the 
entrance  of  the  fort,  determined  that  as  he  eould  not 
be  permitted  to  enter,  no  one  should  come  out  to  ad 
vise  the  enemy  of  his  approach. 

On  the  morning  of  the  25th,  Capt.  Mason  was 
joined  by  an  additional  number  of  Narragansetts  and 
a  few  of  Nihanticks.  They  formed  a  circle,  and 
brandishing  their  scalping  knives,  made  protesta 
tions  how  gallantly  they  would  fight,  and  what  num 
bers  they  would  kill,  &c.  Capt.  Mason  had  now  under 
his  command  near  500  Indians,  in  addition  to  his  for 
mer  force,  with  whom  he  early  reassumed  his  march 
for  the  head  quarters  of  his  enemy.  The  day  pro 
ved  uncommonly  warm, and  the  men  through  excessive 
heat  and  want  of  provisions,  were  only  enabled  by 
night  to  reach  Paucatuck  river  ;  where  the  Narra- 
gansets  began  to  manifest  great  fear,  and  to  enquire 
of  Capt.  Mason  his  real  design.  He  assured  them  it 
was  to  attack  the  Pequots  in  their  fort.  At  which 
they  appeared  greatly  surprised,  and  exhibited  a  dis 
position  to  quit  the  Englk-h  and  return  lipme. 


32  INDIAN     WARS. 

\Vequasb,  a  Pequot  sachem  who  had  revolted  from 
Sasacus,  was  the  principle  guide  of  the  English,  and 
he  proved  faithful.  He  gave  such  information  re 
specting  the  distance  of  the  forts  of  the  enemy  from 
each  other,  and  the  distance  they  were  then  from 
that  of  the  chief  sachem's,  us  induced  Capt.  Mason 
to  determine  to  attack  the  latter,  which  his  guide 
represented  as  situated  at  the  head  of  Mistick  river. 
He  found  his  men  so  much  fatigued  by  their  march 
through  a  pathless  wilderness,  with  their  provision, 
arms  and  arnunition,  that  this  resolution  appeared 
to  be  absolutely  irocessary.  The  little  army  accord 
ingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  26th,  proceeding  di 
rectly  for  Mistic,  and  at  sun-down  penetrated  a  thick 
swamp,  where,  imagining  that  they  could-not  be  far 
distant  from  the  fort,  they  pitched  their  little  camp, 
between  two  large  rocks,  now  known  by  the  name 
of  Porter's  rocks,  situated  in  Groton.  The  senti 
nels,  who  were  considerably  advanced  in  front  of  the 
main  hody  of  the  English,  distinctly  heard  the  ene 
my  singing  and  dancing  throughout  the  night  at  their 
fort. 

The  important  day  was  now  approaching  when  the 
very  existence  of  Connecticut  was  to  be  determined 
by  the  sword  in  a  single  action  !  And  to  be  determin 
ed  by  the  valor  of  less  than  a  hundred  brave  men. 
About  two  hours  before  day,  the  men  were  aroused 
from  their  slumbers  by  their  officers,  and  after  com 
mending  themselves  and  their  cause  to  the  Almighty, 
proceeded  with  all  possible  despatch  for  the  enemy's 
fort.  When  within  a  few  rods  of  the  fort,  Capt.  Ma 
son  sent  for  Uncas  and  Wequash,  and  desired  them 
in  their  Indian  manner  to  harrangue  and  prepare 
their  men  for  the  combat.  They  replied  'that  their 
men  were  much  afraid,  and  could  not  be  prevailed 
on  to  advance  any  farther  !'  (Go  then,1  said  Captain 
Mason,  'and  request  them  not  to  retire, but  to  surround 
the  fort  at  any  distance  they  please,  and  see  what 
courage  Englishmen  can  display  !'  The  day  was  now 
dawning  and  no  time  was  to  be  lost.  The  fort  was 
soon  in  view.'  The  soldier  pir  srH  forward  ajiima- 


INDIAN  WARS.  33 

ted  by  the  reflection  that  it  was  not  for  themselves 
alone  that  they  were  to  fight,  but  for  their  parents, 
wives?  children  and  countrymen  !  As  they  approach 
ed  the  fort  within  a  short  distance,  they  were  discov 
ered  hy  a  Pequot  sentinel,  who  roared  out  'Owanux, 
Owanux  !5  (Englishmen,  Englishmen  !)  The  troops 
pressed  on,  and  as  the  Indians  were  rallying,  poured 
in  upon  them  the  contents  of  their  muskets,  and 
instantly  hastening  to  the  principal  entrance  of  the 
fort,  rushed  in,  sword  in  hand  !  An  important  mo 
ment  this  !  For  notwithstanding  the  blaze  and  thun 
der  of  the  arms  of  the  English,  the  Pequots  made  a 
powerful  resistance.  Sheltered  by  their  .wigwams, 
and  rallied  by  their  sachems  and  squaws,  they  de 
fended  themselves,  and  in  some  instances  attacked 
the  English  with  a  resolution  that  would  have  done 
honor  to  the  Romans,  After  a  bloody  and  desperate 
conflict  of  near  two  hours  continuance,  in  which 
hundreds  of  the  Indians  were  slain,  and  many  of  the 
English  killed  and  wounded,  victory  still  hung  in 
suspense.  In  this  critical  state  of  the  action  captain 
Mason  had  recourse  to  a  successful  expedient.  Rush 
ing  into  a  wigwam  within  the  fort,  he  seized  a  brand 
of  fire,  in  the  mean  time  crying  out  to  his  men  '  we 
must  burn  them  !5  communicated  it  to  the  mats  with 
which  the  wigwams  were  covered,  by  which  means 
the  whole  fort  was  very  soon  enwrapt  in  flames  !  As 
the  fire  increased,  the  English  retired  and  formed  a 
circle  round  the  fort.  The  Mohegans  and  Narra- 
gansettSjWho  remained  idle  spectators  to  the  bloody 
carnage,  now  mustered  courage  sufficient  to  form  an 
other  circle  in  the  rear  of  them.  The  enemy  were 
now  in  a  deplorable  situation.  Death  inevitable  was 
their  portion.  Sallying  forth  from  their  burning  cells, 
they  were  shot  or  cut  in  pieces  by  the  English. 
Many  of  them,  perceiving  it  impossible  to  escape  the 
vigilance  of  the  troops,  threw  themselves  voluntarily 
into  the  flames  ! 

The  violence  of  the'  flames,    the   reflection  of  the 
light,  the  clashing  and  roar  of  arms,  the  shrieks  and 


34  INDIAN    WARS. 

yells  of  the  savages  in  the  fort,  and  the  shouting  of 
the  friendly  Indians  without,  exhihited  a  grand  and 
awful  scene  !  In  less  than  two  hours  from  the  com 
mencement  of  the  bloody  action,  the  English  com 
pleted  their  work.  Eighty  wigwams  were  burnt, 
and  upwards  of  eight  hundred  Indians  destroyed  ! 
Parents  and  children,  the  sanup  and  the  squaw,  the 
aged  and  the  young,  perished  in  promiscuous  ruin  ! 
The  loss  of  the  English  was  comparatively  trifling, 
not  exceeding  25  killed  and  wounded. 

After  the  termination  of  this  severe  engagement, 
as  the  English  were  proceeding  to  embark  on  board 
their  vessels,  which  fortunately  for  them,  at  this  mo 
ment  arrived  in  the  harbor,  they  were  attacked  in 
the  rear,  by  about  300  of  the  enemy,  who  had  been 
dispatched  from  a  neighboring  fort  to  assist  their 
brethren.  The  English  gave  them  so  warm  a  recep 
tion,  that  they  soon  gave  way,  and  fell  back  to  the 
field  of  action,  where  viewing  for  a  few  moments, 
with  apparent  marks  of  surprise  and  horror,  the 
shocking  scene  which  it  presented,  they  stamped, 
bellowed  and  with  savage  rage  tore  their  hair  from 
their  heads  !  and  then  with  a  hideous  yell,  pursued 
the  English,  as  if  with  the  determination  to  avenge 
the  deaths  of  their  friends,  even  at  the  expense  of 
their  lives.  They  pursued  the  English  nearly  six 
miles,  sometimes  shooting  at  a  distance,  from  behind 
rocks  and  trees,  and  sometimes  pressing  hard  upon 
them,  and  hazarding  themselves  in  open  field.  The 
English  killed  numbers  of  them,  but  sustained  no 
loss  on  their  part.  When  a  Pequot  fell,  the  Mohe- 
gans  would  cry  out,  'run  and  fetch  his  head  !'  The 
enemy  finding  at  length  that  they  discharged  arrows 
in  vain,  and  that  the  English  appeared  to  be  well 
stocked  with  ammunition,  gave  over  the  pursuit. 

In  less  than  three  weeks  from  the  time  the  English 
embarked  at  Saybrook,  they  returned  with  the  ex 
ception  of  a  few  killed  and  wounded,  in  safety  to 
their  respective  habitations.  Few  enterprises  were 
ever  pernnp*  achieved  with  more  personal  bravery  ; 


INDIAN    WARS,  35 

in  few  have  so  great  proportion  of  the  effective  men 
of  a  whole  colony,  state  or  nation, been  put  to  so  great 
and  immediate  danger  ;  in  few  have  a  people  been  so 
deeply  and  immediately  interested,  as  were  the  En 
glish  inhabitants  of  Connecticut  at  this  important  cri 
sis.  In  these  respects,  even  the  great  armaments  and 
battles  of  Europe  are  comparatively  of  little  impor 
tance  ;  and  it  ought  never  to  be  forgotten,  that 
through  the  bravery  and  unconquerable  resolution  of 
less  than  one  hundred  men,  Connecticut  was  once 
saved,  and  the  most  warlike  tribe  of  Indians  in  New 
England  completely  exterminated 

The  few  Pequots  who  now  remained  alive  conceiv 
ing  it  unsafe  to  inhabit  longer  a  country  so  exposed  to 
invasion,  removed  far  to  the  westward  ;  among  whom 
was  Sasacus,  their  principal  sachem.  On  the  £5th 
June,  the  Connecticut  troops, under  command  of  Capt, 
Mason,  together  with  a  company  from  Massachusetts 
commanded  by  Capt,  Stoughton  were  sent  in  pursuit 
of  them.  They  proceeded  westward,  and  on  the  27th 
fell  in  with  and  attacked  and  defeated  a  considerable 
body  of  them.  They  took  about  50  of  them  prison 
ers,  among  whom  were  two  sachems,  whose  lives 
were  offered  them  on  condition  of  their  serving  as 
guides  to  the  English. 

The  English  while  on  their  march  frequently  fell  in 
with  small  detached  parties  of  the  enemy,  whom  they 
captured  or  destroyed, but  could  not  obtain  any  infor 
mation  relative  to  the  main  body  commanded  by  Sasa- 
cus.  Finding  that  the  two  sachem  prisoners  would  not 
give  them  the  information  required,  they  on  the  29th 
beheaded  them  at  a  place  called  Menunkutch,  (now 
Guilford,)  from  which  circumstance,  the  place  still 
bears  the  name  of  Sachem's  head.  The  English  on  the 
30th  arrived  at  Quinnipaik,  iiow  New-Haven,  where 
they  were  informed  by  a  friendly  Pequot  the  enemy 
were  encamped  in  a  swamp,  a  few  miles  to  the  west 
ward.  The  troops  pushed  forward,  and  on  the  succeed 
ing  day  arrived  at  the  border  of  said  swamp,  which  they 
found  a  thicket  so  extremely  boggy  as  to  render  it  in- 


INDIAN     WARS. 

accessible  to  any  one  but  the  natives.  The  English 
therefore  thought  it  most  advisable  to  surround  the 
swamp  and  annoy  the  enemy  as  an  opportunity  pre 
sented.  The  Indians  after  a  few  skirmishes,  requested 
n  parley,  which  being  granted  them,  Thos.  Stanton, 
interpreter  to  the  .English,was  sent  to  treat  with  them. 
He  was  authorized  to  offer  life  to  such  as  had  not 
shed  the  blood  of  the  .English.  Upon  which,  the 
sachem  of  the  place,  together  with  about  300  of  the 
tribe,  came  out,  and  producing  satisfactory  proof  of 
their  innocence,  were  permitted  to  retire  ;  but  the 
Pequots  boldly  declared  that  'they  had  both  shed  and 
drank  the  blood  of  Englishmen,  and  would  not  upon 
such  terms  accept  of  life,but  would  fight  it  out!'  The 
English  unwilling  to  brook  the  threats  and  insulting 
language  of  the  Pequots,  attempted  now  to  devise 
means  to  attac1-:  the  whole  body  of  them  without  fur 
ther  delay.  The  officers  were.,  however,  divided  in 
opinion  as  to  the  mode  of  attack.  Some  were  for 
setting  fire  to  the  swamp, others  for  cutting  their  way 
through  with  hatchets,  and  others  for  surrounding 
it  with  a  high  fence  or  pallisado.  Neither  of  which 
plans  were,  hewever,  fully  adopted.  As  night  ap 
proached  the  English  cut  through  a  part  of  the 
swamp,  by  which  means  its  circumference  was  con 
siderably  lessened,  and  they  enabled  so  completely 
to  surround  the  enemy  as  to  prevent  their  escaping 
during  the  night.  .Early  the  ensuing  morning,  the 
Indians  perceiving  themselves  completely  hemmed 
in  by  the  JEnglish,  made  a  violent  attempt  to  break 
through  their  lines  ;  they  were  however  driven  back 
with  great  loss.  They  next  attempted  to  force  the 
line  formed  by  the  Connecticut  troops,  but  here  they 
met  with  a  much  warmer  reception.  The  contest 
now  became  close  and  severe.  The  Indians,  who 
were  about  600  in  number,  appeared  determined  not 
to  yield  but  at  the  expense  of  their  lives.  One  of 
the  most  resolute  of  them,  walked  boldly  up  to  Capt. 
Mason,  with  an  uplifted  tomahawk,  and  when  about 
to  give  the  fatal  stroke,  received  a  blow  from  the  latter 


INDIAN    WARS.  37 

who,  with  his  cutlass;  severed  the  head  of  the  sav 
age  from  his  body.  The  enemy  soon  after  made  an 
other  attempt  to  break  through  the  lines  of  the  .En 
glish,  and  in  which,  after  a  violent  struggle,  they  fi 
nally  succeeded.  About  60  of  their  bravest  warriors 
escaped,  the  remainder  were  killed  or  taken  prison 
ers.  The  loss  of  the  English  was  11  killed  and 
20  wounded. 

The  prisoners  taken  were  divided  among  the  troops 
some  of  whom  were  retained  by  them  as  servants,  and 
the  remainder  sent  to  the  West  Indies  and  sold  to 
planters.  The  prisoners  reported  the  whole  tribe  of 
Pequots  was  now  nearly  exterminated  ;  that  in  dif 
ferent  engagements  there  had  been  upwards  of  2000 
of  them  killed,  and  1000  captured,  among  whom 
were  13  Sachems  ;  and  that  six  yet  survived  of  whom 
one  was  Sasacus,  who  had  fled  with  the  fragment  of 
his  tribe,  to  a  'country  bordering  on  the  Hudson  riv 
er,  inhabited  by  the  Mohawks. 

After  the  swamp  fight  the  Pequots  became  so  weak 
and  scattered  that  the  Mohegans  and  Narragansetts 
daily  destroyed  them,  and  presented  their  scalps  to  the 
.English.  The  few  that  fled  with  Sasacus  to  the 
westward,  were  totally  destroyed  by  the  Mohawks. 
The  scalp  of  Sasacus  was  in  the  fall  of  1638  present 
ed  to  the  Governor  and  council  of  Massachusetts. 

Soon  after  the  extermination  of  the  Pequots,  the 
Naragansetts,  the  most  numerous  tribe  in  New-Eng 
land,  being  displeased  with  the  small  power  with 
which  they  were  vested,  and  the  respect  which  th& 
English  uniformly  manifested  for  Uncas,  appeared 
disposed  to  break  their  treaty  of  friendship.  Mianti- 
nomi,  without  consulting  the  English  according  ta 
agreement,  without  proclaiming  war  or  giving  Uncas 
the  least  information,  raised  an  army  of  1000  men  and 
marched  against  him.  The  spies  of  Uncas  discovered 
the  army  at  some  distance  and  gave  him  intelligence. 
He  was  unprepared,  but  rallying  about  500  of  his 
bravest  men,  he  told  them  they  must  by  no  means 
suffer  Miantinomi  to  enter  their  town,  but  must  go 
6 


3S  INDIAN    WARS 

and  give  him  battle  on  his  way.  The  Mohegans  having 
marched  three  or  four  miles,  met  the  enemy   upin  an 
extensive    plain.      When    the    armies  had  advanced 
within  fair  bow-shot   of  each  other,  Uncas   had    re 
course  to  stratagem,   with  which    he  had  previously 
acquainted  his  warriors.    He  desired  a  parley,  which 
being  granted,    both  armies    halted    in  the  face  of 
each  other.     Uncas  gallantly    advancing  in  front  of 
his  men,  addressed  Miantinomi  to  this    effect  :  '  You 
have  a  number  of  stout  men  with  you,  so  have  I  with 
me.     It  is  a  great  pity  that  so   many  brave  warriors 
should  be  killed  in  consequence   of  a  misunderstand 
ing  between   us  two.       Come,  like  a  brave  man  as 
you  profess  to  be,  and  let  us  decide  the  dispute  alone. 
If  you  kill  me,  my  men   shall  be  yours  ;   but  if  I  kill 
you,  your  men  shall  be  mine.5  c  No  !'  (replied  Mian 
tinomi,)  my  men  came  to  fight,  and  they  shall  fight.' 
Upon  which  Uncas  falling  to  the  ground,  his  men  dis 
charged  a    shower  of  arrows,  at  a  moment's  interval, 
rushing  upon  them  in  the  most  furious  manner,    with 
a  hideous  yell  put  them  to   flight.       The  Mohegans 
pursued  the  enemy  with  the  same    fury   and    eager 
ness  with   which  they  commenced  the  action.      The 
Naragansetts   were  driven  down  rocks   and   precipi 
ces,  and  chased  like  a  doe  by  the  huntsman.       Many 
of  them,  to  escape  from  their  pursuers,  plunged    into 
a  river  from  rocks  of  near  sixty  feet  in  height.  Among 
others  Miantinomi  was   hard    pushed  ;  some    of  the 
most  forward  of  the  Mohegans  coming  up  with    him, 
twirled  him  about  and  so  impeded  his  flight,  that  Un 
cas,    their   sachem,  might  alone  have  the  honor  of 
taking  him.  Uncas,  who  was  a  man  of  great    bodily 
strength,   rushing  forward   like  a  lion  greedy  of  his 
prey,  seized  Miantinomi  by  the   shoulder,  and  giving 
the  Indian  whoop,  called  up  his  men  who    were    be 
hind,  to  his  assistance.     The  victory  was  complete. 
About  50  of  the  Naragansets  were  killed,  and  a  much 
greater  number  wounded  and  taken  prisoners.  Among 
the  latter  was  a  brother  of  Miantinomi,  and    two  of 


INDIAN   WARS-  39 

the  sons  of  Canonicus,  whom  Uncas  conducted  in 
triumph  to  Mohegan.  Some  few  days  after,  Uncas 
conducted  Miantinomi  back  to  the  spot  where  he 
was  taken  for  the  purpose  of  putting  him  to  death. 
At  the  instant  they  arrived  on  the  ground  an  Indian 
who  was  ordered  to  march  in  the  rear  for  the  pur 
pose,  sunk  a  hatchet  in  his  head  and  despatched  him 
at  a  single  stroke  !  he  was  probably  unacquainted 
with  his  fate,  and  knew  not  by  what  means  he  fell. 
Uncas  cut  out  a  large  piece  of  his  shoulder,  which 
he  devoured  in  savage  triumph,  declaring  in  the  mean 
time,  that  it  was  the  sweetest  meat  he  ever  eat,  it 
made  his  heart  strong.  The  Mohegans  buried  Mi 
antinomi  at  the  place  of  his  execution,  and  erected 
upon  his  grave  a  pillar  of  stones.  This  memorable 
event  gave  this  place  the  name  of  Sachem's  Plains. 
They  are  situated  in  an  eastern  corner  of  Norwich. 

The  Narragansetts  became  greatly  enraged  at  the 
death  of  their  sachem,  and  sought  means  to  destroy 
Uncas,  whose  country  they  in  small  parties  frequent 
ly  invaded,  and  by  laying-  in  ambush,  cut  off  a  number 
of  his  most  valuable  warriors.  As  Uncas  was  the 
avowed  friends  of  the  English,  and  had  in  many  in 
stances  signalized  himself  as  such,  they  conceived  it 
their  duty  to  afford  him  all  the  protection  possible. 
They  dispatched  messengers  to  acquaint  the  Narra 
gansetts  with  their  determination,  should  they  con 
tinue  to  molest  and  disturb  the  repose  of  the  Mohe 
gans.  The  messengers  of  the  English  met  with 
quite  an  unfavorable  reception,  to  whom  one  of  the 
Narraganset  sachems  declared,  that  '  he  would  kill 
every  Englishman  or  Mohegan  that  came  within  his 
reach,  that  whoever  began  the  war,  he  would  contin 
ue  it  ;  and  that  nothing  should  satisfy  him  but  the 
head  of  Uncas  !' 

The  .English,  irritated'at  the  provoking  language 
of  the  Narragansetts,  now  determined  not  only  to 
protect  Uncas,  but  to  invade  their  country  with  an 
army  of  300  men  ;  first  to  propose  a  peace  on  their 
own  terms,  but  if  rejected  to  attack  and  destroy  them. 


40  INDIAN    WARS. 

For  this  purpose  Massachusetts  was   to  furnish  190 
and  Plymouth  and  Connecticut  55  men  each. 

The  Narragansetts,  learning  that  an  army  was 
about  to  enter  the  heart  of  their  country,  and  fearful 
of  the  consequences,  dispatched  several  of  their  men 
tto  sue  for  peace  on  such  terms  as  the  -English  should 
be  pleased  to  grant.  The  governor  and  council  de 
manded  that  they  should  restore  to  Uncas  all  the 
captives  and  canoes  which  they  had  taken  from  him, 
and  pledge  themselves  to  maintain  perpetual  peace 
with  the  English  and  their  allies  ;  and  to  the  former 
to  pay  an  annual  tribute  of  2000  fathom  of  wampum. 
These  indeed  were  hard  terms,  against  which  the 
Naragansetts  strongly  remonstrated  ;  but  aware  that 
the  English  had  already  a  considerable  force  collect 
ed  for  the  purpose  of  invading  their  country,  they  at 
length  thought  it  most  prudent  to  acquiesce. 

During  the  war  between  the  Narragansetts  and 
Uncas,  the  former  once  beseiged  the  fort  of  the  lat 
ter  until  his  provisions  were  nearly  exhausted,  and 
he  found  that  his  men  must  soon  perish  either  by  fam 
ine  or  the  tomahawk  unless  speedily  relieved.  In 
this  crisis  he  found  means  of  communicating  an  ac 
count  of  his  situation  to  the  English  scouts,  who 
had  been  dispatched  from  the  fort  in  Saybrook  to 
reconnoitre  the  enemy.  Uncas  represented  the  dan- 
erto  which  the  English  would  be  exposed,  if  the 
Naragansetts  should  succeed  in  destroying  the  Mo 
hegans.  It  was  at  this  critical  junction  that  the 
-greatest  portion  of  the  English  troops  in  Connecti 
cut  were  employed  on  an  expedition  abroad  ;  a  Mr. 
Thomas  Leffingwell,  however,  a  bold  and  enterpris 
ing  man,  on  learning  the  situation  of  Uncas,  loaded 
a  canoe  with  provisions,  and  under  cover-of  the  night 
paddled  from  Saybrook  into  the  river  Thames,  and 
had  the  address  to  get  the  whole  into  the  fort.  The 
enemy  soon  after  discovering  that  Uncas  had  receiv 
ed  supplies,  raised  the  seige.  For  this  piece  of  ser- 
•vice  Uncas  presented  said  Leffingwell  with  a  deed  of 


INDIAN     WARS.  41 

a  very  large  tract  of  land,  now  comprising  the  whole 
town  of  Norwhich. 

The  English  in  New-England  now  enjoyed  a  peace 
until  the  year  1671,  when  they  again  took  up  arms 
to  revenge  the  death  of  one  of  their  countrymen, who 
had  been  inhumanly  murdered  by  an  Indian  belong 
ing  to  the  Nipnet  tribe,  of  which  the  celebrated  Phil 
ip,  of  Mount  Hope,  now  Bristol, was  their  sachem.  It 
was  thought  the  most  prudent  step  by  the  Governor 
and  council,  first  to  send  to  Philip,  and  acquaint  him 
with  the  cause  of  their  resentment,  and  the  course 
which  they  were  determined  to  pursue,  in  case  he 
refused  to  deliver  into  their  hands  the  murderer. 
Philip  being  accordingly  sent  for  and  appearing 
before  the  court,  appeared  much  dissatisfied  with  the 
conduct  o£4J3e  accused,  assuring  them  that  no  pains 
should  be  spared  to  bring  him  to  justice  ;  and  more 
fully  to  confirm  his  friendship  for  the  English,  ex 
pressed  a  wish  that  what  he  was  about  to  make, might 
be  committed  to  paper  that  he  and  his  council  might 
thereunto  affix  their  signatures.  The  Governor  and 
council  in  compliance  with  the  request,  drew  up  the 
following,  which,  after  being  signed  by  Philip  and 
his  chief  men,  was  presented  to  the  Governor  by 
Philip,  in  confirmation  of  his  friendly  assurances  : 

"Whereas  my  father,  my  brother,  and  myself,  have 
uniformly  submitted  to  the  good  and  wholesome 
laws  of  his  majesty,  the  king  of  England,  and  have 
ever  respected  his  faithful  subjects,  the  English, 
as  our  friends  and  brothers,  and  being  still  anxious 
to  brighten  the  chain  of  friendship  between  us,  we 
do  now  embrace  this  opportunity  to  pledge  ourselves 
that  we  will  spare  no  pains  in  seeking  out  and  bring 
ing  to  justice,  such  of  our  tribe  as  shall  hereafter 
commit  any  outrage  against  them  ;  and  to  remove 
all  suspicion,  we  voluntarily  agree  to  deliver  up  to 
them  all  the  fire  arms  which  they  have  heretofore 
kindly  presented  us  with,  until  such  time  as  they  can 
safely  repose  confidence  in  us  ;  and  for  the  true  per- 


INDIAN     WARS. 

formance  of  these  our  sacred  promisess,  we  have  here 
unto  set  our  hands. 

Chief  Sachem. 
Philip's  X  mark. 
Chief  Men. 
Porkanoket's  X  mark. 
Uncombo's  X  mark. 

In  the  presence  of  the  >       Samkama's  X  mark. 
Governor  and  Council.      )       Wocokom's  X  mark. 

Notwithstanding  the  fair  promises  of  Philip,  it  was 
soon  discovered  by  the  English  that  he  was  playing 
a  deep  game  ;  that  he  was  artfully  enticing  his  red 
brethren  throughout  the  whole  of  New-England,  to 
rise,  en  masse,  against  them,  and  drive  them  out 
of  the  country.  The  Naragansetts,  for  this  purpose, 
had  engaged  to  raise  4000  fighting  men.  The  spring 
of  1672,  was  the  time  agreed  upon,  on  which  the 
grand  blow  was  to  be  given.  The  evil  intentions 
of  Philip,  were  first  discovered  and  communicated 
to  the  English  by  a  friendly  Indian  of  the  Naragan- 
set  tribe.  Fortunately  for  them,  this  Indian  had  been 
taken  into  favor  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Elliot,  by  whom  he 
had  been  taught  to  read  and  write, and  became  much 
attached  to  the  English.  The  Governor  upon  re 
ceiving  the  important  information  relative  to  the  hos 
tile  views  of  Philip,  ordered  a  military  watch  to  be 
kept  upon  all  the  English  settlements  within  the  three 
colonies  ;  by  some  of  whom  it  was  soon  discovered 
that  the  report  of  their  Indian  friend  was  too  well 
founded,  as  the  Indians  of  different  tribes  were  daily 
seen  flocking  in  great  numbers  to  the  head  quarters 
of  Philip  ;  previously  sending  their  wives  and  child 
ren  to  the  Na'raganset  country,  which  they  had  ever 
done  before  the  commencement  of  hostilities. 

The  inhabitants  of  Swanzey,  a  small  settlement 
adjoining  Mount  Hope,  the  head-quarters  of  Phillip, 
were  the  first  who  felt  the  effects  of  this  war.  Philip, 
encouraged  by  the  numbers  who  were  daily  enlisting 
under  his  banners,  nml  despairing  of  discovering  a 


INDIAN    WARS.  43 

cause  that  could  justify  him  in  commencing  of  hos 
tilities  against  his  l  friends  and  brothers,'  as  he  had 
termed  them,  resolved  to  provoke  them  to  war  by 
killing  their  cattle,  firing  their  barns,  &c.  This  plan 
had  the  desired  effect,  as  the  inhabitant,  determined 
to  save  their  property  or  perish  in  the  attempt,  fired 
upon  the  Indians,  which  was  deemed  cause  sufficient 
by  the  latter  to  commence  their  bloody  work.  The 
war  whoop  was  immediately  thereupon  sounded, 
when  the  Indians  commenced  an  indiscriminate  mur 
der  of  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  Swanzey,  spar 
ing  not  the  tender  infant  at  the  breast  !  but  three  of 
seventy  eight  persons  which  the  town  contained, 
made  their  escape.  Messengers  were  dispatched  with 
the  melancholy  tidings  of  this  bloody  affair,  to  the 
Governor,  who  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  counsel,  despatched  a  company  of  militia  with 
all  possible  speed,  to  the  relief  of  the  distressed  in 
habitant  residing  near  the  head-quarters  of  Philip. 
As  soon  as  they  could  be  raised,  three  companies 
were  dispatched  under  the  command  of  Capts. 
Henchman,  Prentice,  and  Church,  who  arrived  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Swanzey  on  the  28th  June, 
where  they  were  joined  by  four  more  companies 
from  Plymouth  colony.  It  was  found  that  the  In 
dians  had  pillaged  and  set  fire  to  the  village,  and 
with  their  booty  had  retired  to  Mount  Hope.  A 
company  of  cavalry  were  sent  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Prentice,  to  reconnoitre  them  ;  but  before 
they  arrived  at  a  convenient  place  for  this  purpose, 
they  were  ambushed  and  fired  upon  by  the  enemy, 
who  killed  six  of  their  number  and  wounded  ten. 
The  report  of  their  guns  alarming  the  remaining 
companies  of  the  English,  they  hastened  to  the  re 
lief  of  the  cavalry,  who  at  this  moment  were  com 
pletely  surrounded  by  about  600  Indians,  between 
whom  and  the  English  a  warm  contest  now  ensued. 
The  savages  fought  desperately,  and  more  than  once 
nearly  succeeded  in  overpowering  the  English  ;  but 
very  fortunately  for  the  latter,  when  nearly  des 
pairing  of  victory,  a  fresh  company  of  militia  from 


4i  INDIAN   WARS. 

Boston  arrived  ;  which  flanking  the  enemy  on  the 
right  and  left,  and  exposing  them  to  two  fires,  soon 
overpowered  them  and  caused  them  to  seek  shelter 
in  an  adjoining  wood,  inaccessable  to  the  English. 
The  English  had  in  this  severe  engagement  42  kil 
led,  and  73  wounded,  many  of  them  mortally.  The 
enemy's  loss  was  supposed  to  be  much  greater. 

On  the  30th  Major  Savage,  who  by  his  excellen 
cy  the  Governor  had  been  appointed  Commander 
in  Chief  of  the  combined  English  forces,  arrived  with 
an  additional  company  of  cavalry,  who  with  the  re 
maining  companies  the  following  day  commenced 
their  march  for  Mount  Hope,  the  head-quarters  of 
Philip.  On  their  way,  the  English  were  affected 
with  a  scene  truly  distressing.  The  savages,  not 
content  with  bathing  their  tomahawks  in  the  blood 
of  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  Swanzey,  had,  it 
was  discovered,  in  many  instances  detached  their 
limbs  from  their  mangled  bodies,  and  affixed  them  to 
poles,  which  were  extended  in  the  air!  Among  which 
were  discovered  the  heads  of  reveral  infant  children, 
the  whole  of  them,  by  order  of  Major  Savage,  were 
collected  and  buried. 

The  English  arrived  at  Mount  Hope  about  sunset  ; 
but  the  enemy  receiving  information  of  their  ap 
proach,  had  deserted  their  wigwams  and  retired 
into  a  neighboring  wood.  Major  Savage,  to  pursue 
the  enemy  with  success,  now  devided  his  men  into 
separate  companies,  which  he  ordered  to  march  in 
different  directions,  stationing  40  at  Mount  Hope. 
On  the  4th  July,  the  men  under  the  command  of 
Captains  Church  and  Henchman,  fell  in  with  a  body 
of  the  enemy,  to  the  number  of  200,  whom  they  at 
tacked  ;  the  .English  being  but  3£  in  number  inclu 
ding  officers.  Victory  for  a  considerable  length  of 
time  appeared  in  favour  of  the  savages;  but  very 
fortunately  for  the  former,  being  commanded  by 
bold  and  resolute  officers,  they  defended  them 
selves  in  the  most  heroic  manner  until  relieved  by 
a  company  of  cavalry  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Prentice.  The  Indians  now  in  turn, 


INDIAN    WARS.  45 

finding  the  fire  of  the  English  too  warm  for  them,  fled 
in  every  direction,  leaving  30  of  their  .number  dead 
and  about  60  severely  wounded,  on  the  field  of  action, 
The  English  in  this  engagement  had  7  killed  and  32 
wounded,  five  of  whom  survived  the  action  but  a  few 
hours. 

This  action  so  far  from  daunting  the  bold  and  res 
olute  Capt.  Church,  seemed  to  inspire  him  with  ad 
ditional  bravery.  Unwilling  that  any  of  the  enemy 
should  escape,  he  boldly  led  his  men  into  an  almost 
impenetrable  forest,  into  which  those  who  survived 
the  action  had  fled.  The  Indians  perceiving  the  En 
glish  approaching,  concealed  themselves  from  their 
view  by  laying  flat  on  their  bellies,  in  which  situation 
they  remained  concealed  until  the  English  had  advan 
ced  within  a  few  rods  of  them,  when  unperceived, 
fixing  upon  his  man,  discharged  a  shower  of  arrows 
among  them.  This  unexpected  check  threw  the  Eng 
lish  into  confusion,  which  the  Indians  perceiving, rush 
ed  furiously  upon  them  with  their  knives  and  toma 
hawks,  shouting  horribly  !  The  English,  their  cavalry 
being  unable  to  afford  them  assistance,  were  now  in 
a  very  disagreeable  situation,  the  trees  being  so  very 
large  as  to  render  it  difficult  to  use  their  fire  arms 
with  any  effect,  and  they  were  very  soon  so  encom 
passed  by  the  savages,  as  to  render  almost  every  effort 
to  defend  themselves  useless.  Of  64  who  entered  the 
swamp,  but  1 7  escaped,  among  whom  very  fortunate 
ly  was  their  valuable  leader,  Capt.  Church. 

The  English  finding  that  they  could  neither  bring 
their  enemies  to  action  in  open  field,  or  engage  them 
with  any  success  in  the  forest  in  which  they  were  lodg 
ed,  returned  home  with  the  exception  of  three  compa 
nies,  who  were  stationed  by  Major  Savage,  near  the 
borders  of  a  swamp,  into  which  it  was  strongly  sus 
pected  that  Philip  with  a  number  of  his  tribe  had  fled. 
This  swamp  was  two  miles  in  length,  and  to  the  Eng 
lish  inaccessible.  Philip,  who  had  been  watching  the 
motion  of  his  enemies,  perceiving  a  great  p£rt  march 
off,  conjectured  that  their  object  was  to  obtain  a  rein- 
7 


10  INDIAN    WARS, 

forcemcnt.  Impressed  with  this  belief,  he  resolved 
to  improve  the  first  opportunity  to  escape  with  a  few 
chosen  men,  by  water,  which  he  with  little  difficulty 
effected  the  succeeding  night,  taking  advantages  of 
a  low  tide  The  enemy  were  soon  after  their  escape, 
discovered  and  pursued  by  the  inhabitants  of  Keho- 
both,  accompanied  by  a  party  of  the  Mohegans,  who 
had  volunteered  their  services  against  Philip. 

The  Rehoboth  militia  came  up  with  the  rear  of  the 
enemy  about  sun-set,  ^  and  killed  12  of  them,  without 
sustaining  any  loss  on  their  part  ;  night  prevented 
their  engaging  the  whole  force  of  Philip  ;  but  early 
the  succeeding  morning,  they  continued  the  pursuit. 
The  Indians  had,  however  fled  with  such  precipitan 
cy,  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  overtake  them. 
They  bent  their  course  to  the  westward,  exhorting 
the  different  tribes  through  which  they  passed,  to  take 
up  arms  against  the  English. 

The  United  Colonies  became  now  greatly  alarm 
ed  at  the  hostile  views  and  rapid  strides  of  Philip. 
The  General  Court  was  constantly  sitting  :  and  en 
deavouring  to  plan  means  to  cut  him  off  before  he 
should  have  an  opportunity  to  corrupt  the  minds  of 
too  many  of  his  countrymen. 

While  the  court  was  thus  employed,  information 
was  received  that  Philip  had  arrived  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Brookfield,  situated  about  65  miles  from 
Boston,  and  that  a  number  of  its  inhabitants  had  been 
inhumanly  butchered  by  his  adherents.  Orders 
were  immediately  thereupon  issued  for  the  raising  of 
ten  companies  of  foot  and  horse,  to  be  despatched  to 
the  relief  of  the  unfortunate  inhabitants  of  Brook- 
field  ;  but  before  they  could  reach  that  place,  Philip 
and  his  party  had  entered  the  town  and  indiscrimin 
ately  put  to  death  almost  every  inhabitant  which  it 
contained  ,  the  few  that  escaped,  having  taken  the 
precaution,  previous  to  the  attack,  to  assemble  to 
gether  in  one  house,  which  they  strongly  fortified. 
This  house  was  furiously  attacked  by  the  savages 
and  several  times  set  on  fire,  and  the  bcseiged  were 


INDIAN    WARS.  47 

on  the  point  of  sui rendering,  when  Major  WilJard 
happily  arrived  to  their  relief.  Between  the  English 
and  the  Indians,  a  desperate  engagement  now  en 
sued  ;  the  former,  by  the  express  command  of  their 
officers,  gave  no  quarter,  but  in  a  very  heroic  man 
ner  rushed  upon  the  savages  with  clubbed  muskets. 
The  action  continued  until  near  sunset,  when  the. 
few  Indians  that  remained  alive  sought  shelter  in  the 
neighboring  woods.  In  this  engagement  the  English 
had  23  killed  and  72  wounded.  The  enemy's  loss, 
was  217  killed,  and  between  200  and  390  wounded, 
who  by  the  way  of  retaliation  for  their  barbarity  ex 
ercised  towards  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  Brook  - 
field,  were  immediately  put  to  death  ! 

The  Governor  and  Council,  on  learning  the  fate  of 
the  unfortunate  inhabitants  of  Brookfield,  dispatched 
a  reinforcement  of  three  companies  of  cavalry  to 
Major  Wiliard,  and  ordered  the  like  number  to  be 
sent  him  from  Hartford,  in  Connecticut  colony,  with 
which  he  was  directed  to  pursue  Philip  with  fire  and 
sword,  to  whatever  part  of  the  country  he  should  re 
sort. 

It  being  discovered  that  a  part  of  Philip's  forces 
had  fled  to  Hatfield,  two  companies  of  English,  under 
the  command  of  Captains  Lothrop  and  Beers,  were 
sent  in  pursuit  of  them,  who  within  about  three  miles 
of  Hatfield,  overtook  and  attacked  them  ;  but  the 
force  of  the  English  being  greatly  inferior  to  that 
of  the  enemy,  the  former  were  defeated  and  driven 
back  to  the  main  body  ;  which  enabled  the  enemy, 
who  had  in  the  late  engagement  been  detached  from 
their  main-body,  to  join  Philip.  On  the  13th  Sep 
tember,  information  was  received  by  Major  Willard, 
that  the  enemy  had  successfully  attacked  and  de 
feated  the  troops  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Lothrop  :  that  they  were  ambushed  and  unexpec 
tedly  surrounded  by  1000  of  the  enemy,  to  whom 
they  all  except  3  fell  a  sacrifice  !  The  defeat  of 
Captain  Lothrop  took  place  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Deerfield  :  for  the  defence  of  which.,  there  was  an 


IS  INDIAN    WARS- 

English  garrison  which  the  Indians  were  about  to 
attack  when  Major  Willard  happily  arrived  ;  on  the 
approach  of  which  the  Indians  fled, 

On  the  10th  October  following,  a  party  of  Philip's 
Indians  successfully  assaulted  the  town  of  Springfield 
which  they  pillaged  and  set  fire  to,  killing  about  40 
of  the  inhabitants.  On  the  14th,  they  assaulted  the 
town  of  Hatfield,  in  which  two  companies,  under 
the  command  of  Capts.  Moseley  and  Appleton,  were 
stationed.  The  enemy  continued  the  attack  about 
two  hours  ;  when  finding  the  fire  of  the  English  too 
warm  for  them,  they  fled,  leaving  a  number  of  their 
party  behind  them  dead. 

Philip  now  finding  himself  closely  pursued  by  a 
large  and  formidable  body  of  the  English,    deemed  it 
prudent  to  bend  their  course  towards  his  old  place  of 
residence  ;  there  to  remain  until  the  ensuing  spring. 
But  the  commissioners  of  the  United  Colonies, duly 
reflecting  on  the  deplorable  situation  of  their  defence 
less  brethren  throughout  the  country, aware  that  there 
were  then  much  greater  number  of  their  savage  ene 
mies  embodied  than  at  any  former  period,  who,  if  suf 
fered  peaceably  to  retire  into  winter  quarters,  might 
prove  too  powerful  for  them  the  spring  ensuing,  resol 
ved  to  attack  the  whole  force   under   Philip  in  theii 
winter  encampment  ;  for  the  purpose  of  which  every 
Englishman  capable  of  bearing  arms  was  command 
ed,  by   proclamation  of  the   Governor,  to  hold  him 
self  in  readiness  to  march  at  the  shortest  notice.  The 
10th  of  December  was  the  day  appointed  by  the  com 
missioners  on  which  the  decisive  blow  was  to  be  giv 
en.     Six  companies  were  immediately  to  be  raised  in 
Massachusetts,  consisting  in  the  whole  of  527  mer/ 
to  the  command  of  which  were    appointed  Captains 
Mosely,  Gardener,  Davenport,  Oliver  and  Johnson. 
Five  companies  were  raised  in  Connecticut,  consist 
ing  of  450  men,  to  the  command  of  which  were  ap 
pointed  Captains  Siely.  Mason,  Gallop,  Watts,    and 
Marshal]  :  two  companies  in  Plymouth,  of  150  men, 


INDIAN  WARS.  49 

who  were  commanded  by  Captains  Rice  and  Gorham. 
Three  Majors  of  the  three  respective  divisions,  were 
also  appointed,  to  wit  :  Maj.  Appleton,  of  Mass.  Maj. 
Treat,  of  Conn,  and  Maj.  Bradford,  of  Plymouth. 
The  whole  force  consisting  of  1,127  men,  were  com 
manded  by  Maj.  Gen.  Winslow,  late  Governor  of  the 
Colony.  On  the  7th  Dec.  the  combined  forces 
commenced  their  march  for  the  head  quarters  of  the 
enemy.  At  this  inclement  season,  it  was  with  the 
utmost  difficulty  the  troops  were  enabled  to  penetrate 
through  a  wild  and  pathless  wood.  On  the  morning  of 
the  9th,  having  travelled  all  the  preceding  night,  they 
arrived  at  the  border  of  an  extensive  swamp,  in 
which  they  were  informed  by  their  guides,  that  the 
enemy  were  encamped  to  the  number  of  4000.  The 
English,  after  partaking  of  a  little  refreshment, 
formed  for  battle.  Capt.  Mosely,  and  Capt.  Daven 
port,  led  the  van,  and  Maj.  Appleton  and  Capt.  Oli 
ver  brought  up  the  rear  of  the  Mass,  forces.  Gen. 
Winslow,  with  the  Plymouth  troops,  formed  the  cen 
tre  ;  the  Conn,  troops  under  the  command  of  their 
respective  captains,  together  with  about  200  of  the 
Mohegans,  commanded  by  Oneco,  the  son  of  Uncas, 
brought  up  the  rear. 

It  was  discovered  by  an  Indian  sent  for  the  purpose, 
that  in  the  centre  of  the  swamp,  they  had  built  a 
very  strong  fort,  of  so  wise  a  construction,  that  it  was 
with  difficulty  more  than  one  person  could  enter  it  at 
a  time.  About  10  o'clock,  A.  M.  the  English  with 
the  sound  of  a  trumpet,  entered  the  swamp,  and  when 
within  about  50  rods  of  their  fort,  were  met  and  at 
tacked  by  the  enemy.  The  Indians  in  the  usual  man 
ner,  shouting  and  howling  like  beasts  of  prey,  com 
menced  the  attack  with  savage  fury  ;  but  with  a  hid 
eous  noise  the  English  were  not  intimidated  ;  charg 
ing  them  with  great  bravery,  the  enemy  were  soon 
glad  to  seek  shelter  within  the  walls  of  their  fort.  The 
English  having  closely  pressed  upon  the  enemy,  as 
they  retreated,  now  found  themselves  in  a  very  disa- 


50  INDIAN    WARS. 

greeable  situation,  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  Indians, 
who  were  covered  by  a  high  breastwork,  they  were 
not  even  enabled  to  act  on  the  defensive.  At  this 
critical  juncture  the  lion  hearted  Oneco,  with  the  as 
sent  of  Gen.  Winslow,  offered  to  scale  the  walls  of 
the  fort,  which  being  approved  of  by  the  English  com 
manders,  Oneco,  with  about  60  picked  men,  in  an 
instant  ascended  to  the  top  of  the  fort  ;  where  having 
a  fair  chance  at  the  enemy,  they  hurled  their  toma 
hawks  and  discharged  their  arrows  with  such  success 
among  them,  as  in  a  very  short  time  to  throw  them 
into  the  utmost  confusion.  Those  who  attempted  to 
escape  from  the  fort,  were  instantly  cut  in  pieces  by 
the  troops  without.  The  enemy  finding  themselves 
thus  hemmed  in,  attacked  on  all  sides,  in  the  most 
abject  terms  begged  for  quarter,  which  was  denied 
them  by  the  English.  A  great  proportion  of  the 
troops  being  now  mounted  on  the  walls  of  the  fort, 
they  had  nothing  to  do  but  load  and  fire  ;  the  enemy 
being  penned  up  and  huddled  together  in  such  a  man- 
nor  that  there  was  scarcely  a  shot  lost.  This  bloody 
contest  was  of  near  six  hours  continuance,  when  the 
English  perceiving  the  fort  filled  with  nought  but  dead 
or  such  as  were  mortally  wounded  of  the  enemy, closed 
the  bloody  conflict. 

The  scene  of  action  at  this  instant  was  indeed  such 
as  could  not  fail  to  shock  the  stoutest  heart.  The 
huge  logs,  of  which  the  fort  was  constructed,  were 
completely  crimsoned  with  blood  of  the  enemy,  while 
the  surrounding  woods  resounded  with  the  dying 
groans  of  the  wounded.  The  number  slain  of  the 
enemy  in  this  severe  engagement  could  not  be  ascer 
tained  ;  it  was  however  immense.  Of  4000  it  was 
supposed  to  contain  at  the  commencement  of  the  ac 
tion,  not  200  escaped  !  Among  whom  unfortunately 
was  the  treacherous  Philip. 

After  the  close  of  this  desperate  action,  the  troops, 
having  destroyed  all  in  their  power,  left  the  enemy's 
ground  and  carrying  about '300  wounded  men, march- 


INDIAN    WARS.  51 

ed  back  to  the  distance  of  16  miles  to  head-quarters. 
The  night  proved  cold  and  stormy,  the  snow  fell  deep, 
and  it  was  not  until  midnight  or  after  that  the  troops 
were  enabled  to  reach  their  place  of  destination. — 
Many  of  the  wounded,  who  propably  otherwise  might 
have  recovered,  perished  with  the  cold  and  inconve 
nience  of  a  march  so  fatiguing. 

Although  the  destruction  of  so  great  a  number  of 
the  enemy  was  considered  of  the  greatest  importance 
to  the  English,  yet  it  proved  a  conquest  dearly  bought, 
It  was  obtained  at  the  expense  of  the  lives  of  a  great 
number  of  privates,  and  a  great  porportion  of  their 
most  valuable  officers  ;  among  whom  were  the  Cap 
tains  Davenport,  Gardener,  Johnson,  Siely,  and  Mar 
shall. 

The  courage  displayed  during  the  action  by  every 
part  of  the  army  ;  the   invincible  heroism  of  the  offi 
cers  ;  the  firmness  and  resolution  of  the  soldiers,  when 
they  saw  their  captains  falling  before  them  ;  and  the 
hardships  endured  before  and  after  the  engagement, 
are  hardly  credible,  and  rarely  find  a  parallel  in  an 
cient  or  modern  ages.      The  cold  the   day  preceding 
the  action  was  extreme,  and  in  the   night   of  which 
the  snow  fell  so  deep  as  to  render  it  extremely  diffi 
cult  for  the  army  to  move  the  succeeding  day.    Four 
hundred  of  the  soldiers  were  so  completely  frozen  as 
to  be  unfit  for  duty  !     The  Connecticut  troops  were 
the  most  disabled,    having  endured  a  tedious   march 
without  halting,  from  Stonington  to  the  place  of  pub 
lic  rendezvous.     They  suffered  a  much  greater  loss 
in  the  action,  in  proportion  to  their  numbers,  than  the 
troops  of  the  other  colonies.     The  bold  and  intrepid 
Capt.  Mason,  who  received  a  fatal  wound  in  the  ac 
tion,  of  which  he  died  in  about    three    months  after, 
was  the  first  after  the  Mohegans,  to  mount  the  walls 
of  the  fort,  nor  did  the  troops  under  his  command  fail 
to  folio  w  the  noble  example.     On   enumerating  the 
number  of  slain  and  wounded,  it  was   found  as  fol 
lows  : 


52  INDIAN   WARS. 

Of  companies  commanded  by 

Captains  Mosely,  10  killed,  40  wounded 

Oliver,  20  48 

Gardener,  1 1  32 

Johnson,  18  38 

Davenport,  15  19 

Gallop,  28  43 

Siely,  32  50 

Watts,  J9  33 

Mason,  40  50 

Marshall,  25  37 

Gorham,  30  41 

Sachem  Oneco,  51  82 

Total,  299  513 

The  loss  of  the  troops  from  Connecticut  was  so 
great,  that  Major  Treat  considered  it  absolutely  ne 
cessary  to  return  immediately  home.  Such  of  the 
wounded  as  were  not  able  to  travel,  were  put  on 
board  a  vessel,  and  conveyed  to  Stonington.  The 
troops  on  their  return  killed  and  captured  about  30  of 
the  enemy. 

The  Massachusetts  arid  Plymouth  forces  kept  the 
field  the  greater  part  of  the  winter.  They  ranged 
the  country,  took  a  number  of  prisoners,  destroyed 
about  3000  wigwams,  but  achieved  nothing  brilliant 
or  decisive. 

The  Nipnet  and  Narragansett  tribes  being  by  the 
late  action  nearly  exterminated,  the  few  who  surviv 
ed,  by  the  direction  of  Philip,  fled  in  small  parties  to 
different  parts  of  the  country,  improving  every  op 
portunity  that  presented  to  revenge  the  untimely  fate 
of  their  brethren.  On  the  10th  February,  1678, 
about  100  of  them  surprised  the  inhabitants  of  Lan 
caster,  (Mass.)  a  part  of  whom,  as  place  of  greater 
safety,  had  the  day  previous  resorted  to  the  dwelling 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Rowland  :  this  however  being  con- 
strucoed  of  dry  logs,  was  set  on  fire  by  the  Indians, 
which  the  unfortunate  English  within,  being  unable 


INDIAN  WARS.  53 

to  extinguish,  they  fell  victims  to  the  devouring 
flames.  On  21st,  the  enemy  attacked  the  inhabitants 
of  Medfield  ;  12  of  whom  they  killed,  and  the  re 
mainder  made  captive. 

On  the  3d  March,  the  Indians  still  continuing  their 
depredations,  two  companies  of  cavalry,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Pierce  and  Captain  Watkins, 
were  ordered  out  for  the  purpose  of  affording  pro 
tection  to  the  defenceless  inhabitants  of  towns  most  ex 
posed  to  their  incursions.  On  the  5th,  they  marched 
to  Pautuxet,  near  where  there  was  a  considerable 
body  of  Indians  encamped,  whom  on  the  morning  of 
the  6th,  they  fell  in  with  and  attacked.  The  enemy 
at  first  appeared  but  few  in  number  ;  but  these  were 
only  employed  to  decoy  the  English,  who  on  a  sud 
den  found  themselves  surrounded  by  near  500  Indi 
ans,  who  with  their  tomahawks  and  scalping  knives, 
rushing  furiously  upon  them,  threatened  them  with 
instant  destruction  !  The  English,  now  acting  on 
the  defensive,  although  surrounded  by  five  times 
their  number^  fought  with  their  usual  spirit,  and 
were  resolved  to  sell  their  lives  at  as  dear  a  rate  as 
possible.  They  were  very  soon,  however,compelled 
to  yield  to  the  superior  force  of  their  savage  ene 
mies.  Only  five  escaped  !  This  victory,  although 
of  considerable  importance  to  the  savages,  cost  them 
a  number  of  their  bravest  warriors,  93  of  whom  were 
the  succeeding  day  found  dead  upon  the  field  of  ac 
tion.  There  were  in  this  engagement  about  20  friend 
ly  Indians  with  the  English,  who  fought  like  despe 
radoes.  One  of  them  observing  Capt.  Pierce  unable 
to  stand,  in  consequence  of  the  many  wounds  he  had 
received,  for  nearly  two  hours  bravely  defended  him. 
When  perceiving  his  own  imminent  danger,  and  that 
he  could  afford  the  Captain  no  farther  assistance,  by 
blacking  his  face  as  the  enemy  had  done,  he  escaped 
unnoticed. 

On  the  25th  March,  a  party  of  Indians  attacked 
and  burnt  the  towns  of  Weyinouth  and  Warwick, 
killing  a  great  number  of  the  inhabitants.  On  the 
8 


INDIAN   WAR?. 

10th  April  following,  they  pillaged  and  burnt  Reho- 
both  and  Providence. 

On  the  1st  May,  a  company  of  English,  and  150 
Mohegans,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  George  Den- 
nison  ;  were  sent  in  pursuit  of  a  body  of  the  enemy, 
commanded  by  a  son  of  Miantinomi.  On  the  8th  May 
they  met  with  and  attacked  them  near  Groton.  The 
Indians  apparently  determined  on  victory  or  death, 
displayed  an  unusual  degree  of  courage  ;  but  the 
English  and  Mohegans  proved  too  strong  for  them  ; 
who,  after  destroying  a  greater  part  with  their  mus 
kets  and  tomahawks,  drove  the  remainder  into  a 
neighboring  river,  where  they  soon  perished. 

On  the  23d,  Cononchet,  sachem  of  the  few  scat 
tered  remains  of  the  Narragansetts,  proposed  to  his 
council  that  the  lands  bordering  on  Connecticut  river 
not  inhabited  by  the  English  should  be  by  them  plan 
ted  with  corn,  for  their  future  subsistence  ;  which  be 
ing  approved  of  by  the  latter,  200  of  the  Narragan 
setts  were  dispatched  for  this  purpose.  The  Govern 
or  being  apprized  of  their  intentions,  dispatched 
three  companies  of  cavalry  to  intercept  them.  About 
100  of  the  Mohegans,  under  the  command  of  Oneco, 
accompanied  the  English.  The  enemy  were  com 
manded  by  Cononchet  in  person,  who  first  proceed 
ed  to  Seekonk,  to  procure  seed  corn.  It  was  in  the 
neighborhood  of  this  place  that  they  were  first  met 
with  and  engaged  by  the  .English  and  Mohegans.  The 
enemy,  with  becoming  bravery,  for  a  long  time  with 
stood  the  attack  ;  but  being  but  poorly  provided  with 
weapons,  they  were  at  length  overpowered  and  com 
pelled  to  yield  to  the  superior  po\ver  of  their  enemies. 
In  the  midst  of  the  action,  Cononchet,  fearful  of  the 
issue,  deserted  his  men,  and  attempted  to  seek  shel 
ter  in  a  neighboring  wood  ;  but  being  recognized  by 
the  Mohegans  they  pursued  him.  Concnchet  per 
ceiving  himself  nearly  overtaken  by  his  pursuers,  to 
facilitate  his  flight,  first  threw  away  his  blanket,  then 
his  silver  laced  coat,  with  which  he  had  been  pre 
sented  by  the  .English  a  few  weeks  previous  ;  but 


INDIAN    WARS.  OD 

finding  that  he  could  not  escape  from  his  pursuers  by 
flight,  he  plunged  into  a  river  where  he  was  even  fol 
lowed  by  half  a  dozed  resolute  Mohegans,  who  laid 
hold  of  him,  forced  him  under  water,  and  there  held 
him  until  drownded.  The  loss  of  the  English  and 
Mohegans  in  this  engagement  was  12  killed  and  21 
wounded  ;  that  of  the  enemy  was  43  killed  and  about 
80  wounded. 

The  inhabitants  of  New  London,  Norwich  and 
Stonington, having  frequently  discovered  a  number  of 
the  enemy  lurking  about  in  small  bodies  in  the  adja 
cent  woods,  by  joint  agreement  voluntarily  enlisted 
themselves,  to  the  number  of  300,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Palmer,  and  Captains  Dennison  and  Avery, 
who,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Mohegans  and  a  few 
friendly  Narragansetts,  in  three  expeditions  destroyed 
nearly  1000  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  8th  June,  the  Indians  assualted  and  burnt 
Bridgewater,  a  small  settlement  in  the  colony  of  Mas 
sachusetts.  Forty  of  its  inhabitants  fell  victims  to 
savage  barbarity. 

The  Governor  and  Council  of  Massachusetts  colo 
ny,  aware  of  the  danger  to  which  many  of  the  inland 
settlements  were  exposed,  by  frequent  incursions  of 
the  enemy,  and  finding  it  extremely  difficult  to  raise 
a  sufficient  force  to  oppose  them  in  the  many  parts  to 
which  the  fragments  of  the  broken  tribes  had  resort 
ed,  adopted  the  policy  of  sending  among  them,  a§ 
spies,  such  Indians  as  were  friendly  and  could  be  de* 
pended  on  ;  which  plan  had  its  desired  effect.  These 
Indians  representing  the  force  of  the  English  much 
greater  than  it  really  was,  and  warning  the  enemy  pf 
danger  which  did  not  exist,  detered  them  from  acting 
in  many  instances  on  the  offensive.  One  of  the  friend 
ly  Indians,  returning  to  Boston  on  the  10th  of  July, 
reported  as  follows  ;  lcThat  a  large  number  of  Jn- 
dians  were  embodied  in  a  wood  near  Lancaster,  which 
village  they  intended  to  attack  and  burn  in  a  few 
days  ;  that  they  had  been  epcouraged:to  continue  the 
war  with  the  English,  by  Frenchmen  from  the  great 


56  INDIAN    WARS, 

lake,   who  had    supplied  them  with  fire-arms   and 
.ammunition." 

On  the  receipt  of  this  important  information,  the 
Governor  despatched  three  companies  of  cavalry,  un 
der  the  command  of  Major  Savage,  for  the  defence  of 
Lancaster,  who  unfortunately,  by  mistaking  the  road, 
fell  into  an  ambush  of  about  350  Indians,  by  whom 
they  were  instantly  surrounded.  The  English  exhib 
ited  great  presence  of  mind,  and  repelled  the  attack 
of  the  enemy  in  a  very  heroick  manner.  The  savages 
being  however  well  provided  with  fire-arms,  soon 
gained  a  complete  victory  over  the  English,  whose 
loss  in  this  unfortunate  engagement  was  54  !  The 
number  of  killed  and  wounded  of  the  enemy  could 
not  be  aesertained,  as  they  remained  masters  of  the 
field  of  action. 

On  the  15th  a  severe  engagement  took  place  be 
tween  a  company  of  English  cavalry,  and  about  100 
of  the  enemy,'  near  Groton.  The  latter  were  not 
perceived  by  the  former  until  they  were  within  a  few 
paces  of  them,  the  Indians  having  concealed  them 
selves  in  the  bushes,  when  suddenly  issuing  forth 
with  a  hideous  yell,  the  cavalry  were  thrown  into  con 
fusion,  but  instantly  forming  and  charging  the  enemy 
with  great  spirit,  they  fled  in  every  direction.  The 
cavalry  in  attempting  to  pursue  them,  were  once 
more  ambushed.  The  contest  now  became  close  and 
.severe  ;  the  Indians  having  succeeded  in  decoying  the 
English  into  a  thick  wood,  attacked  them  with  fury 
and  success.  The  commander  of  the  English  being 
killed,  every  man  sought  his  own  safety.  Of  95,  of 
which  the  company  was  composed,  but  12  escaped. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  however  supposed  to  be 
much  greater. 

On  the'12th  of  August  a  party  of  Indians  entered 
the  town  of  Westfield,  killed  and  took  several  of  the 
inhabitants  prisoners,  and  burnt  several  houses. 
Three  of  them  soon  after  made  their  appearance  at 
a  house  near  said  town,  and  fired  at  the  man  at  his 
door,  who  fell.  They  ran  towards  him,  and  one  of 


INDIAN    WARS.  57 

them  stopping  to  scalp  him,  he  was  assaulted  by  the 
man's  wife  with  a  stroke  from  a  large  hatchet,  which 
went  so  completely  into  his  body,  that  three  differ 
ent  efforts  she  could  not  disengage  it,  and  the  Indian 
made  off  with  it  sticking  in  him.  A  second  Indian 
also  made  an  attempt,  when  she  by  a  well  directed 
stroke  with  a  stick  she  had  got,  laid  him  on  the 
ground.  The  third  then  run,  and  the  other,  as  soon 
as  he  had  recovered  his  feet,  followed  the  example  ; 
on  which  the  woman  took  her  husband  in  her  arms 
and  carried  him  into  the  house,  when  he  soon  after 
recovered. 

On  the  17th,  a  party  of  Indians  commenced  an  at 
tack  on  Northampton,  but  there  being  a  number  of 
English  soldiers  therein  stationed,  the  enemy  were 
repulsed. 

On  the  20th  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Spring 
field  were  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians  as  they 
were  returning  from  divine  service,-  and  although  the 
former  were  provided  with  fire-arms,  the  enemy  suc 
ceeded  in  making  prisoners  of  two  women  and  several 
children,  whom  they  soon  after  tomahawked  and 
scalped  ;  in  which  situation  they  were  the  succeed 
ing  day  found  by  a  party  of  the  jEtoglish  sent  in  pur 
suit  of  the  enemy.  One  of  the  unfortunate  women, 
although  shockingly  mangled,  was  found  still  alive, 
and  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  enabled  to  speak,  gave 
the  following  account  of  the  fate  of  her  unfortunate 
companions,  to  wit  ;  That  they  were  first  severely 
bound  with  cords,  that  the  Indians  soon  after  built  a 
fire,  and  regaled  themselves  with  what  they  had 
previously  stolen  from  the  English  ;  that  soon  after, 
a  warm  dispute  arose  between  them  relative  to  th& 
prisoners,  each  claiming  the  women  for  their 
squaws  (or  wives  ;)  that  they  at  length  proceeded 
to  blows,  and  after  beating  each  other  for  some  time 
with  clubs,  it  was  agreed  by  both  parties,  to  prevent 
further  altercation,  that  the  women  should  be  put 
to  death,  which  they,  as  she  supposed,  carried 
immediately  into  execution.  The  unfortunate 


58  INDIAN      \VAIIS. 

narrator  received  a  severe  blow  on  the  head,  which 
brought  her  senseless  to  the  ground,  and  while  in 
this  situation,  was  scalped  and  left  for  dead  by  her 
savage  enemies  ! 

The  inhabitants  of  Sudbury,  with  a  company  of 
soldiers  under  the  command  of  Lt.  Jacobs,  of  Marl- 
borough,  alarmed  at  the  near  approach  of  the  enemy, 
who  to  the  number  of  about  £00  were  encamped 
near  that  place,  resolved  to  attack  them  at  night  ; 
.accordingly,  on  the  6th  of  September,  they  marched 
within  view  of  them,  and  at  night,  as  they  lay  extend 
ed  around  a  large  fire,  approached  them  unperceived 
within  gun-shot,  when  they  gave  them  the  contents 
of  their  muskets.  Many  of  those  who  remained  un 
hurt  being  suddenly  aroused  from  their  slumbers  by 
the  yells  of  their  wounded  bretheren,  and  imagining 
that  they  were  completely  surrounded  by  the  Eng 
lish,  whom  the  darkness  of  the  night  prevented  their 
seeing,  threw  themselves  into  the  fire  which  they 
had  enkindled,  and  there  perished,  but  a  few  if  any 
escaped.  In  this  attack  the  English  sustained  no  loss. 
On  the  25th,  a  considerable  body  of  the  enemy  at 
tacked  the  inhabitants  of  Marl  bo  rough  ;  many  of 
whom  they  killed  and  set  fire  to  their  houses.  A 
company  of  English,  who  had  been  ordered  from 
Concord  for  the  defence  of  this  place,  were  cut  off 
by  the  savages,  and  totally  destroyed.  Two  other 
-companies,  despatched  from  Boston  for  the  like  pur 
pose,  met  with  the  same  fate.  It  appeared  that  the 
Governor  on  learning  the  situation  of  the  unfortunate 
inhabitants  of  Marlborough,  despatched  to  their 
relief  two  companies  under  the  command  of  Capts. 
Wadsworth  and  Smith,  who,  before  they  arrived  at 
their  place  of  destination,  were  informed  that  the  sav 
ages  had  quit  Marlborougb  and  proceeded  for  Sud 
bury,  12  miles  distant,  which  induced  the  English  to 
alter  their  course  and  proceed  immediately  for  the 
latter  place.  Of  this  it  appeared  that  the  enemy  had 
been  apprised  by  their  runners,  and  had  laid  a  plan 
to  cut  them  off  ere  they  should  reach  Sudbury, which 


INDIAN  WARS.  59 

they  in  the  following  manner  completely  effected  ; 
learning  the  course  which  the  English  would  take, 
they,  within  a  few  rods  thereof,  stationed  50  or  60  of 
their  number  in  open  field,  who  were  ordered  to 
retreat  into  a  neighboring  thicket  as  soon  as  discov 
ered  and  pursued  by  the  English.  In  this  thicket, 
the  remainder  of  the  Indians,  to  the  number  of  about 
300,  concealed  themselves  by  laying  prostrate  on  their 
bellies.  The  English  on  their  arrival,  espying  the 
Indians  in  the  field,  and  presuming*  them  to  be  but 
few  in  number,  pursued  and  attacked  them,  who  very 
soon  retreated  to  the  fatal  spot  where  their  treacher 
ous  brethren  lay  concealed,  and  prepared  to  give 
their  pursuers  a  warm,  if  not  fatal  reception.  Here 
they  were  closely  pursued  by  the  English, who  too  late 
discovered  the  fatal  snare  which  had  been  laid  for 
them.  In  an  instant  they  were  completely  surround 
ed  and  attacked  on  all  sides  by  the  savages.  The 
English  for  several  hours  bravely  defended  them 
selves,  but  at  length  were  borne  down  by  num 
bers  far  superior  to  their  own.  Thus  fell  the  brave 
Capt.  Wadsworthand  Capt.  Smith,  as  well  as  most 
of  the  troops  under  their  command. 

The  Indians  bordering  on  the  river  Merrimack, 
feeling  themselves  injured  by  the  encroachments  of 
the  English,  once  more  resumed  the  bloody  toma 
hawk,  which  had  been  buried  for  a  number  of  years. 
On  the  1st  of  November  they,  in  a  considerable  body, 
entered  the  village  of  Chelmsford  and  Woburn,  and 
taking  advantage  of  their  weak  state,  indiscriminately 
put  to  death  every  inhabitant  they  contained,  sparing 
not  the  infant  at  the  breast.  On  the  9th  they  burnt 
the  house  of  Mr.  Ezra  Earaes,  near  Concord  ;  killed 
his  wife,  threw  her  body  into  the  flames  and  made 
captives  of  her  children.  On  the  15th  they  took  pris 
oner  a  young  woman,  sixteen  years  of  age,  who  by 
the  family  with  whom  she  resided  had  been  placed 
on  a  hill  in  the  neighbourhood  of  their  dwelling,  to 
watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy.  The  account  which 
the  young  woman  gave  of  her  capture  and  escape  was 


60  INDIAN    WARS. 

as  follows  :  That  '  on  the  morning  of  her  capture, the 
family  having  been  informed  that  a  party  of  Indians 
had  the  day  previous  been  discovered  in  a  neigh 
boring  woods,  she,  by  their  request,  ascended  a  hill 
near  the  house,  to  watch  their  motions,  and  alarm 
the  family,  if  seen  approaching  the  house  :  that  about 
noon  she  discovered  a  number  of  them  ascending  the 
hill,  in  great  haste  :  That  she  immediately  thereupon 
attempted  to  evade  them  by  retiring  into  a  thicket  ; 
but  that  the  Indians,  who  it  appeared  had  before  ob 
served  her,  found  her  after  a  few  moments  search, 
and 'compelled  her  to  accompany  them  to  their  settle 
ment,  about  40  miles  distant.  It  was  here  they  gave 
her  to  understand  she  must  remain  and  become  their 
squaw,  and  dress  and  cook  their  victuals  :  that  she 
remained  with  them  about  three  weeks  ;  during 
which  time,  they  made  several  expeditions  against 
the  English,  and  returned  with  a  great  number  of  hu 
man  scalps  :  that  on  the  night  of  the  6th  December, 
they  returned  with  six  horses,  which  they  had  stolen 
from  the  English,  which  having  turned  into  a  small 
enclosure,  they  set  out  on  a  new  expedition  :  That 
she  viewed  this  as  a  favourable  opportunity  to  es 
cape — to  effect  which,  she  caught  and  mounted  one 
of  the  horses,  and  making  use  of  a  strip  of  bark 
as  a  bridle,  she  penetrated  a  wild  and  pathless 
wood,  and  arrived  at  Concord,  at  seven  o'clock  the 
morning  succeeding,  having  travelled  all  the  preced 
ing  night,  to  evade  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  !'  In  like 
manner  did  one  of  the  children  of  Mr.  Eames,  (of 
whose  capture  mention  is  made  in  the  preceding 
page)  escape  from  the  Indians,  although  but  ten  years 
of  age,  he  travelled  sixty  miles  through  an  uninhabit 
ed  wood,  subsisting  on  acorns  ! 

On  the  12th  December,  a  party  of  Indians  attack 
ed  and  killed  several  of  the  inhabitants  of  Bradford. 
The  Governor  of  Massachusetts  colony,  for  the  pro 
tection  of  the  defenceless  inhabitants  bordering  on 
the  Merrimack,  ordered  the  raising  and  equipping  of 
four  companies  of  cavalry,  to  the  command  of  which 


INDIAN    WARS.  61 

were  appointed  Captains  Sill,  Holyoke,  Cutler  and 
Prentice. 

On  the  23d  the  above  troops  proceeded  for  the  bor 
ders  of  the  Merrimack,  and  on  the  $6th  fell  in  with  a 
considerable  body  of  the  enemy  whom  they  engaged 
and  completely  defeated.  On  the  4th  January,  1679 
Capt.  Prentice,  detached  from  the  main  body,  fell  in 
With  and  engaged  about  100  of  the  enemy  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Amherst,  whom  he  likewise  defeated* 
but  with  considerable  loss  on  his  part. 

On  the  6th,  a  son  of  the  brave  Capt.  Holyoke,  of 
Sprinfieid,  received  information  that  a  number  of  the 
enemy  in  small  bodies  were  skulking  about  in  the 
woods  bordering  on  that  town,  with  twenty  resolute 
young  men  marched  out  to  attack  them.  Falling  in 
with  a  considerable  body  of  them,  an  engagement  en 
sued,  which  though  severe,  terminated  at  length  in  fa 
vour  of  the  .English.  The  Indians  being  furnished  with 
muskets,  were  unwilling  to  give  ground,  and  would 
probably  have  remained  masters  of  the  field  of  action, 
had  not  the  English  received  a  reinforcement  which 
put  them  to  flight.  The  loss  of  the  English  in  the  en 
gagement  was  five  killed  and  nine  wounded,  and 
that  of  the  enemy  23  killed,  and  between  30  and  40 
wounded. 

The  savages  were  no  longer  confined  to  any  partic 
ular  tribe  or  place,  but  in  parties  from  50  to  100  were 
scattered  all  over  the  thinly  inhabited  parts  of  New- 
England.  A  considerable  body  of  them  were  yet  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Hadley,Deerfield  and  Northamp 
ton,  where  they  were  continually  committing  their 
wanton  acts  of  barbarity.  Several  of  the  towns  above 
mentioned  duly  reflecting  on  the  danger  to  which  they 
and  their  families  were  exposed,  formed  themselves 
into  several  companies  and  made  choice  of  their  com 
manders.  On  the  4th  Feb'ry,  receiving  information 
that  there  were  near  200  Indians  embodied  in  a  swamp 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Deerfield,  the  above  mention 
ed  force  marched  to  attack  them.  Arriving  within  view 
of  them  about  day-break,  they  discovered  them  in  a 
9 


INDIAN    WARS. 


profound  sleep,  stretched  out  upon  the  ground  around 
their  fire.  The  cavalry  immediately  thereupon  dis 
mounted,  and  after  forming  themselves,  approache  d 
them  within  pistol  shot  before  they  were  discovered  by 
the  enemy  ;  who,  being  suddenly  aroused  from  their 
slumber,  and  astonished  at  the  unexpected  appearance 
of  so  many  of  their  enemies,  fell  an  easy  prey  to  the 
English,  who  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  killed  120  of 
them  ;  the  remainder,  as  the  only  means  of  escape, 
having  plunged  into  a  river,  where  probably  many  of 
them  perished. 

Although  the  English  achieved  this  action  without 
any  loss  on  their  part,  they  were  on  their  return  un 
happily  ambushed  by  about  400  of  the  enemy.  The 
.English  having  expended  all  their  ammunitition  in  the 
late  engagment,  and  being  much  fatigued,  were  now 
in  turn  likely  to  fall  an  easy  prey  to  their  enemies,  who 
with  their  bloody  knives  and  tomahawks  for  the  space 
of  an  hour  attacked  them  with  the  greatest  success. 
Not  one  of  the  English  it  is  probable  would  have  sur 
vived  this  bold  and  unexpected  attack  of  the  enemy, 
had  it  not  been  for  the  presence  of  mind  of  their  brave 
commander,  Capt.  Holyoke,  who  by  a  stratagem,  suc 
ceeded  in  saving  a  party  of  them.  Capt.  Holyoke  had 
his  horse  killed  under  him,  and  at  one  time  was 
attacked  by  five  of  the  enemy,  whom  he  beat  off 
with  his  cutlass.  The  loss  of  the  English  in  this 
unfortunate  action,  was  51  killed  and  84  wounded, 
many  of  the  latter  survived  the  action  but  a  few  days. 
The  defeat  and  destruction  of  the  English  in  this  en 
gagement  was  much  to  be  lamented,  as  among  the 
slain  were  the  heads  of  several  families,  who  had 
volunteered  their  services  in  defence  of  their  infant 
settlements. 

On  the  10th,  several  hundreds  of  the  enemy,  en 
couraged  by  th?ir  late  success,  appeared  before  Hat- 
field,  and  fired  several  dwelling  houses,  without  the 
fortification  of  the  town.  The  inhabitants  of  Hadley 
being  seasonably  apprized  of  the  situation  of  their 
brethren  at  Hatfield,  a  number  of  them  volunteered 


INDIAN    WARS. 


G3 


their  services  and  marched  to  their  relief.  The  In 
dians;  as  they  were  accustomed  to  do  on  the  approach 
of  the  .English,  lay  flat  on  their  bellies  until  the  latter 
had  advanced  within  a  bow  shot,  when  partly  rising, 
they  discharged  a  shower  of  arrows  among  them, 
which  wounded  several  of  the  English  ;  but  they  hav 
ing  wisely  reserved  their  fire, now  in  turn  levelled  their 
pieces  with  the  best  effect,  before  the  savages  had 
time  to  recover  their  legs,  about  SO  of  whom  were 
instantly  despatched  and  the  remainder  dispersed. 

On  the  15th  February,  the  Governor  of  Massachu 
setts  colony  receiving  information  that  the  Indians 
were  collecting  in  great  numbers  under  the  immediate 
guidance  of  Philip,  near  Brookfield,  despatched 
Capt.  Henchman,  with  50  men,  to  dislodge  them; 
who  proceeding  first  to  Hadley,  was  joined  by  a  com 
pany  of  cavalry  from  Hartford.  On  the  £0th  they 
discovered  and  attacked  a  party  of  Indians  near  Lan 
caster.  They  killed  50  of  them,  and  took  between 
50  and  60  of  their  squaws  and  children  prisoners. 
Capt. Henchman,  on  his  way  to  Brookfield, discovered 
the  dead  bodies  of  several  of  his  countrymen  half  con 
sumed  by  fire,  who  it  appeared  a  few  days  previous 
had  fallen  victims  to  the  barbarity  of  the  savages. 

The  scattered  remains  of  the  enemy  being  now  so 
completely  harrassed  and  driven  from  place  to  place 
by  the  English,  a  number  of  them  resorted  to  the  west 
ern  country,  then  inhabited  by  the  Mohawks;  but  the 
latter  being  on  friendly  terms  with  the  English  and 
Dutch,  who  were  settling  among  them,  were  unwilling 
to  harbour  their  enemies,  and  consequently  attacked 
a  considerable  body  of  them  on  the  6th  March.  The 
engagement  was  a  severe  one  ;  the  fugitive  Indians 
being  furnished  with  fire-arms,  repelled  the  attack  of 
the  Mohawks  with  a  becoming  spirit,  but  were  at 
1  ength  overpowered  and  completely  defeated.  The 
loss  on  both  sides  was  very  great. 

On  the  20th,  the  Indians  took  a  Mr.  Willet  prisoner, 
near  Swanzey,  and  after  cutting  off  his  nose  and  ears, 
set  him  at  liberty.  On  the  22d  a  negro  man  who  had 


64  INDIAN     WARS. 

been  for  several  months  a  prisoner  among  the  savages, 
escaped  from  them   and    returned  to  the  English,  to 
whom  he  gave  the  following  information,  to  wit;  That 
the  enemy  were  concerting  a  plan  to  attack  Taunton 
and  the  villages  adjacent.  That  for  this  purpose  there 
were  then  embodied  near  Worcester  1000  of  them, at 
the  head  of  whom  was  Philip,  and  near  one  hundred 
of  them  were  furnished  with  fire-arms  ;  That  a  few 
days  previous  to  his  escape,  a  scouting  party  arrived 
and  brought  in  with  them  two   prisoners  of  war  and 
three  human  scalps  !      To  frustrate  the   intention  of 
the  enemy,the  Governor  of  Massachusetts  colony  des 
patched  three  companies  of  cavalry  for  the  defence 
of  the  English.      Connecticut  colony,   although  but 
little  troubled  with  the  enemy  since  the  destruction  of 
the  Pequots,  were  not  unwilling  to  afford  their  breth 
ren  all  the   assistance    possible  in  a  protracted   and 
bloody  war  with  the  common  enemy.     They  accord 
ingly  furnished  three  companies  of  cavalry,who  under 
the  command  of  the   experienced  Major  Talcott,  on 
the  5th  April  proceeded  to  the  westward  in  search  of 
the  enemy.     On  the  llth  they  fell  in  with,  attacked 
and  defeated  a  considerable  body  of  them.    Apparent 
ly  by  the  special  direction  of  Divine  Providence, Maj. 
Tallcot  arrived  in  the   neighbourhood  of  Hadley  in 
time  to  preserve   the   town,  and    save  its  inhabitants 
from  total  destruction!   The  savages  to  the  number  of 
500,  were  on  the  eve  of  commencing  an  attack, when 
they  were  met  by  the  Major,  with  the  troops  under 
his  command.     This  unexpected  relief  animating  the 
few  inhabitants  which  the  town  contained,  they  hast 
ened  to  the  assistance  of  the  cavalry,  who  at  this  mo 
ment  were  seriously  engaged  with  the  whole  body  of 
the  enemy.      The  savages  having  gained  some  signal 
advantages,  victory  for  a  considerable  length  of  time 
appeared  likely  to  decide  in  their  favour.  Fortunately, 
the  inhabitants  of  Hadley  having  for  their  defence  a 
few  weeks  previous    procured  from  Boston  an  eight 
pounder,  it  was  at  this  critical   period,  loaded  by  the 


INDIAN    WARS.  65 

women,  and  being  mounted,  was  by  them  conveyed 
to  the  jEnglish,  which  being  charged  with  small  shot, 
nails,  &,c.  was  by  the  latter  discharged  with  the  best 
effect  upon  the  enemy,  who  immediately  thereupon 
fled  in  every  direction.  Thus  it  was  that  the  English 
in  a  great  measure  owed  the  preservation  of  their 
lives  to  the  unexampled  heroism  of  a  few  women. 

The  Governor  and  Council  of  the  United  Col 
onies,  taking  under  serious  consideration  the  mira 
culous  escape  of  the  inhabitants  of  Hadley  from  to 
tal  destruction,  and  the  recent  success  of  the  arms 
of  the  English  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  ap 
pointed  the  27th  day  of  the  Aug.  1679, to  be  observed 
throughout  the  Colonies  as  a  day  of  public  Thanks 
giving  and  praise  to  ALMIGHTY  GOD.  This  it  may  be 
well  to  observe,  was  the  commencement  of  an  annual 
custom  of  our  forefathers,  which  to  the  present  day 
is  so  religiously  observed  by  their  descendants 
throughout  the  New-England  States. 

On  the  3d  September  the  Connecticut  troops  un 
der  the  command  of  Major  Talcott.  Captains  Dennis- 
on  and  Newbury,  proceeded  to  Narraganset  in  quest 
of  the  enemy,  who  to  the  number  of  about  300  had 
been  discovered  in  a  piece  of  woods.  The  English 
were  accompanied  by  their  faithful  friend  Oneco, 
with  100  Mohegans  under  his  command.  In  the 
evening  of  the  5th  they  discovered  the  savages  en 
camped  at  the  foot  of  a  steep  hill,  on  which  Major 
Talcott  made  arrangements  for  an  attack.  The  Mo 
hegans  were  ordered  by  a  circuitous  route  to  gain 
the  summit  of  the  hill  to  prevent  the  flight  of  the  en 
emy.  Two  companies  of  cavalry  were  ordered  to 
flank  them  on  the  right  and  left, while  Major  Talcott 
with  a  company  of  foot  stationed  himself  in  the  rear. 
Having  thus  disposed  of  his  forces,  a  signal  was  giv 
en  by  the  Major  for  the  Mohegans  to  commence  the 
attack,  which  they  did,  and  with  such  spirit,  accom 
panied  by  the  savage  yells,  that  had  the  enemy  been 
renowned  for  their  valour,  they  must  have  been^to 


INDIAN   WAKS. 

the  highest  degree  appalled  at  so  unexpected  an 
onset !  After  contending  a  few  moments  with  the 
Mohegans,  the  enemy  were  attacked  on  the  right 
and  left  by  the  cavalry,  who  with  their  cutlasses 
made  great  havock  among  them  ;  they  were,  however, 
unwilling  to  give  ground  till  they  had  lost  nearly 
one  half  of  their  number,  when  they  attempted  a  flight 
to  a  swamp  in  their  rear  ;  but  here  they  were  met  by 
Major  Talcott,  with  the  company  of  foot,  who  gave 
them  so  warm  a  reception  that  they  once  more  fell 
back  upon  the  Mohegans,  by  whom  they  very  soon 
overpowered  and  would  have  been  totally  destroyed, 
had  not  Major  Talcott  humanely  interfered  in  their 
behalf,  and  made  prisoners  of  the  few  that  remained 
alive.  Among  the  latter  was  the  leader,  a  squaw, 
commonly  termed  the  queen  of  Narraganset,  and 
among  them  an  active  young  fellow  who  begged  to  be 
delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  Mohegans,  that  they 
might  put  him  to  death  in  their  own  way,  and  sac 
rifice  him  to  their  cruel  genius  of  revenge,  in  which 
they  so  much  delighted  !  The  English,  although 
naturally  averse  to  acts  of  savage  barbarity,  were  not 
in  this  instance  unwilling  to  comply  with  the  unnat 
ural  request  of  the  prisoner,  as  it  appeared  that  he 
had  in  the  presence  of  the  Mohegans  uxultingly  boas 
ted  of  having  killed  19  English  with  his  gun,  since 
the  commencement  of  the  war,  and  after  loading  it 
for  the  20th  (there  being  no  more  of  the  latter  with 
in  reach)  he  levelled  at  a  Mohegan,  whom  he  killed, 
which  completing  his  number,  he  was  willing  to  die 
by  their  hands.  The  Mohegans  accordingly  began 
to  prepare  for  the  tragical  event.  Forming  them 
selves  into  a  circle,  admitting  as  many  of  the  English 
as  were  disposed  to  witness  their  savage  proceedings, 
the  prisoner  was  placed  in  the  centre  !  When  one  ot' 
the  Mohegans,  who  in  the  late  engagement  had  lost 
a  son,  with  a  knife  cut  off  the  prisoner's  ears!  then 
his  nose  !  and  then  the  fingers  of  each  hand  !  arid 
after  the  relapse  of  a  few  moments,  dug  out  his  eyes 
and  filled  their  sockets  with  hot  embers  !  Although 


INDIAN    WARS.  f)7 

the  few  English  present  were  overcome  with  the  view 
of  a  scene  so  shocking  to  humanity.  Yet  the  prisoner, 
so  far  from  bewailing  his  fate,  seemed  to  surpass 
his  tormentors  in  expressions  of  joy  !  When  nearly 
exhausted  with  the  Toss  of  blood  and  unable  to  stand, 
his  executioner  closed  the  tragic  scene  by  beating  out 
his  brains  with  a  tomahawk  ! 

The  few  Indians  that  now  remained  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Plymouth  colony,  being  in  a  state  of  star 
vation,  they  surrendered  themselves  prisoners  to  the 
.English  ;  one  of  whom  being  recognized  as  the  per 
son  who  had  a  few  days  previous  inhumanly  murder 
ed  the  daughter  of  a  Mr.  Clarke,  was  by  order  of  the 
Governor  publicly  executed.  The  remainder  were 
retained  and  treated  as  prisoners,  who  served  as 
guides  ;  twenty  more  of  the  enemy  were  on  the  suc 
ceeding  day  surprised  and  taken  prisoners  by  the 
English. 

The  troops  under  the  command  of  Major  Brad 
ford,  and  Captains  Mosely  and  Brattle,  on  the  15th 
September,  surprised  and  took  150  of  the  enemy 
prisoners  near  Pautuxet,  among  whom  was  the 
squaw  of  the  celebrated  Philip  ;  and  on  the  day  suc 
ceeding,  learning  that  the  enemy  in  considerable 
bodies  were  roving  about  in  the  woods  near  Dedham, 
Major  Bradford  despatched  Capt.  Brattle  '  with  50 
men  to  attack  them  ;  who,  the  day  following,  fell  in 
with  and  engaged  about  100  of  them.  As  hatchets 
were  the  only  weapons  with  which  they  were  pro 
vided,  they  made  but  a  feeble  defence,  and  were  soon 
overpowed  by  the  English,  who  took  7-A  of  them 
prisoners  ;  the  remainder  having  fallen  in  the  action. 
The  above  party  was  commanded  by  a  blood  thirsty 
sachem,  called  Pompham,  renowned  for  his  bodily 
strength,  which  exceeded  that  of  any  of  his  country 
men  ever  met  with.  He  bravely  defended  himself 
to  the  last  ;  being  wounded  in  the  breast,  and  unable 
to  stand,  he  seized  one  of  the  soldiers  while  in  the 
act  of  despatching  him  with  the  butt  of  his  gun  and 


()S  INDIAN    WARS. 

by  whom  lie  would  have  been  strangled,  had  he  not 
been  fortunately  rescued  by  one  of  his  comrades. 

A  general  famine  now  pervailed  among  the  enemy 
in  consequence  of  being  deprived  of  an  opportunity 
to  plant  their  lands  ;  numbers  were  daily  compelled 
by  hunger  to  surrender  themselves  prisoners  to  the 
English  ;  among  whom  was  a  Nipnet  sachem,  accom 
panied  by  ISO  of  his  tribe. 

On  the  12th  October  Capt.  Church,  with  fifty  sol 
diers  and  a  few  friendly  Indians  under  his  command, 
attacked  and  defeated  a  party  of  the  enemy  near 
Providence  ;  and  on  the  day  following,  conducted  by 
Indian  guides,  discovered  a  considerable  body  of  the 
enemy  encamped  in  a  swamp  near  Pomfret.  A 
friendly  Indian  at  first  espying  them,  commanded 
them  to  surrender  ;  but  the  enemy  did  not  appear 
disposed  to  obey.  Being  sheltered  by  large  trees, 
they  first  discharged  their  arrows  among  the  English, 
and  then  with  a  terible  yell  attacked  them  with  their 
long  knives  and  tomahawks.  •  The  English  meeting 
with  a  much  warmer  reception  than  what  they  ex 
pected,  gave  ground,  but  being  rallied  by  their  old 
and  experienced  commander,  Capt.  Church,  they 
rushed  upon  them  with  such  inpetuosity,  that  the 
enemy  were  thrown  into  confusion  and  dislodged 
from  their  coverts.  The  English  had  7  men  killed 
and  14  wounded  :  among  the  latter  was  their  brave 
commander,  who  received  an  arrow  through  his  left 
arm.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  32  killed  and  be 
tween  60  and  70  wounded. 

On  the  20th  information  was  forwarded  to  the  Go- 
vernor  and  Council,  that  the  famous  Philip,  who  had 
been  for  a  long  time  skulking  about  in  the  woods 
near  Mount  Hope,  much  disheartened  by  the  ill  suc 
cess  of  his  countrymen,  was  the  morning  preceding 
discovered  in  a  swamp  near  that  place  attended  by 
about  90  of  Seaconet  Indians  ;  on  which  the  brave 
Capt.  Church,  with  his  little  band  of  invincibles  were 
immediately  despatched  in  pursuit  of  him.  Capt. 
Church  was  accompanied  as  usual  by  a  number  of 


KING   PHILIP 


INDIAN    WARS.  69 

Mohegans,  and  a  few  friendly  Seaconet  Indians.  On 
the  27th  they  arrived  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
swamp,  near  the  border  of  which  he  stationed  sev 
eral  of  the  Mohegans,  and  a  few  friendly  Seaconet 
Indians  to  intercept  Philip  in  case  he  should  attempt 
an  escape  therefrom^  Capt.  Church  at  the  head  of 
his  little  band,  now  with  unconquerable  resolution 
plunged  into  the  swamp  arid  wading  nearly  to  his 
waist,  in  water,  discovered  and  attacked  the  enemy. 
The  Indians  were  nearly  100  strong,  but  being  unex 
pectedly  attacked  they  made  no  resistance  but  fled 
in  every  direction.  The  inaccessible  state  of  the 
swamp,  however,  prevented  the  English  from  pur 
suing  them  with  success.  Their  dependance  was 
now  upon  their  friends  stationed  without.  Nor  did 
it  appear  that  those  faithful  fellows  suffered  so  good 
an  opportunity  to  pass  unimproved.  The  reports 
of  their  muskets  convinced  Capt.  Church  they  were 
doing  their  duty  ;  in  confirmation  of  which,  he  was 
very  soon  after  presented  with  the  head  of  KING 
PHILIP. 

Philip,  it  appeared,  in  attempting  to  fly  from  his 
pursuers,  was  recognized  by  one  of  the  English,  who 
had  been  stationed  with  the  Mohegans  to  intercept 
him,  and  at  whom  he  levelled  his  piece,  but  the  pri 
ming  being  unfortunately  wet  and  preventing  the  dis 
charge  thereof,  the  .cunning  sachem  would  yet  have 
escaped  had  not  one  of  the  brave  sons  of  Uncas,  at  this 
instant,  given  him  the  contents  of  his  musket !  The  ball 
.went  directly  through  his  heart  f  Thus  fell  by  the 
Hands  of  a  faithful  Mohegan  the  famous  Philip  ;  who 
was  the  projector  and  instagator  of  a  war,  which  not 
only  proved  the  cause  of  his  own  destruction,  but  that 
of  nearly  all  his  tribe,  one  of  the  most  numerous  of 
any  inhabiting  New  P^ngland. 

It  was  at  this  important  instant  that  the  English 
were  made  witnesses  of  a  remarkable  instance  of 
savage  customs.  Oneco,  on  learning  that  Philip  had 
fallen  by  the  hand  of  one  of  his  tribe,  urged  that, 
agreeably  to  their  custom,-  he  had  an  undoubted  right 
10 


70  INDIAN    WARS. 

to  the  body  and  a  right  to  feast  himself  with  a  piece 
thereof !  Which  the  English  not  objecting  to,  he 
deliberately  drew  his  long  knife  from  his  girdle,  and 
with  it  detached  a  piece  of  flesh  from  the  bleeding 
body  of  Philip,  of  about  one  pound  weight,  which 
he  broiled  and  eat  ;  in  the  mean  time  declaring  that 
'*  he  had  not  for  many  moons  eaten  any  thing  with 
so  good  an  appetite  !"  The  head  of  King  Philip 
was  sent  by  Captain  Church  to  Boston,  to  be  pre 
sented  to  the  Governor  and  Council,  as  a  valuable 
trophy. 

The  few  hostile  Indians  that  now  remained  with 
in  the  United  Colonies,  conscious  that  if  so  fortu 
nate  as  to  evade  the  vigilence  of  the  .English,  they 
must  soon  fall  victims  to  the  pervailing  famine,  fled 
with  their  families  to  the  westward.  The  English 
were  disposed  rather  to  facilitate  than  prevent  their 
flight.  Having  been  for  a  number  of  years  engaged 
in  a  destructive  and  bloody  war  with  them,  they 
were  willing  that  the  few  that  remained  alive  should 
escape  to  a  country  so  far  distant  that  there  was  no 
probability  of  their  returning  to  reassume  the  bloody 
tomahawk.  Impressed  with  these  ideas,  and  that 
the  enemy  was  completely  exterminated,  they  were 
about  to  bury  the  hatchets,  and  turn  their  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits  ;  when  by  an  express,  they 
were  informed  that  the  natives  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  country  (Province  of  Maine)  had  unprovokedly 
attacked  and  killed  a  considereble  number  of  the 
English  in  that  quarter. 

To  quench  the  flames  which  appeared  to  be  en 
kindling  in  the  east,  the  Governor  despatched  four 
companies  of  cavalry  to  the  relief  of  the  unfortunate 
inhabitants.  The  enemy,  who  were  of  the  Kenne- 
bec  and  Amoscoggin  tribes,  first  attacked  with 
unprecedented  fury  the  defenceless  inhabitants  set 
tled  on  Kennebec  river,  the  most  of  whom  were 
destroyed  or  dispersed  by  them. 

On  the  2d  November  about  700  of  the  enemy 
attacked,  with  their  accustomed  fury,  (accompanied 


INDIAN  WARS.  71 

by  their  savage  yells)  the  inhabitants  of  Newche- 
wannick,  an  English  settlement  situated  a  few  miles 
from  the  mouth  of  the  river  Kennebecr.  Before 
they  had  fully  accomplished  their  hellish  purpose, 
they  were  surprised  by  the  troops  sent  from  Boston, 
between  whom  a  most  bloody  engagement  now  en 
sued.  The  Indians  encouraged  by  their  numbers, 
repelled  the  attack  of  the  English  in  so  heroic  a 
manner,  that  the  latter  were  very  soon  thrown  into 
disorder  and  driven  out  of  town,  where  they  again 
formed,  faced  about,  and  in  turn  charged  the  enemy 
with  unconquerable  resolution  !  The  contest  now 
became  close  and  severe.  The  savages  with  their 
terrefic  yells,  dexterously  hurled  their  tomahawks 
among  the  English,  while  the  latter,  with  as  much 
dexterity,  attacked  and  mowed  them  down  with  their 
cutlasses  !  .Each  were  apparently  determined  on 
victory  or  death  !  The  .English,  at  one  moment,  un 
able  to  withstand  the  impetuosity  of  the  savages, 
would  give  ground  ;  at  the  next,  the  latter,  hard  pushed 
by  the  cavalry  would  fall  back.  Thus  for  the  space 
of  two  hours,  did  victory  appear  balancing  between 
the  two  contending  parties.  The  field  of  action  was 
covered  with  the  slain,  while  the  adjacent  woods  re 
sounded  with  shrieks  and  groans  of  the  wounded. 
At  this  critical  juncture  the  .English,  when  on  the  very 
point  of  surrendering,  were  providentially  preserved 
by  a  stratagem.  In  the  heat  of  the  action  Major 
Bradford  despatched  a  company  of  cavalry  by  a  cir 
cuitous  route  to  attack  the  enemy  ;  suspecting  this 
company  a  reinforcement  of  the  English,  fled  in  eve 
ry  direction,  leaving  the  English  masters  of  the  field. 
Thus,  after  two  hours  hard  fighting,  did  the  English 
obtain  a  victory  at  the  expense  of  the  lives  of  more 
than  half  their  number  !  Their  killed  and  wounded 
amounted  to  99  !  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  not  as 
certained  ;  it  was  however  probably  three  times  grea 
ter  than  that  of  the  English. 


72  INDIAN    WARS. 

The  day  succeeding  this  bloody  engagement,  a 
lieutenant  with  12  men,  was  sent  by  the  commander 
to  the  place  of  aetion  to  bury  the  dead.  When  they 
were  a  few  rods  therefrom  they  were  suddenly  at 
tacked  by  about  100  of  the  enemy  who  had  lain  in  am 
bush.  The  lieutenant  ordered  his  men  to  reserve  their 
fire  until  they  could  discharge  with  the  best  effect 
upon  the  enemy,  by  whom  they  were  soon  surrounded 
and  furiously  attacked  on  all  sides.  The  savages  yel 
ling  horribly,  brandishing  their  long  knifes  in  the  air, 
yet  crimsoned  with  the  blood  of  their  countrymen. 
The  brave  little  band,  however,  remained  firm  and 
undaunted,  and  as  the  savages  approached  them, 
each  taking  proper  aim,  discharged  with  so  good 
effect  upon  them,  that  the  Indians,  amazed  at  the 
instantaneous  destruction  of  so  many  of  their  com 
rades,  fled  in  every  direction.  The  English  sustained 
no  loss. 

On  the  5th  the  enemy  successfully  attacked  the 
inhabitants  of  the  village  of  Casco  ;  30  of  whom  they 
killed,  and  made  prisoners  the  family  of  a  Mr.  Brack 
et,  who  on  the  7th  made  their  escape  in  the  follow 
ing  manner:  The  Indians,  on  their  return  to  their 
wigwams,  learning  that  a  detached  party  of  their 
brethren  had  attacked  with  success  and  plundered 
the  village  of  Arrowsick,  to  enjoy  a  share  of  the  spoil 
hastened  to  join  them,  leaving  the  prisoners  in  the 
care  of  two  old  men  and  three  squaws,  Mr.  Brack 
et,  whose  family  consisted  of  himself,  wife,  three 
small  children  and  a  negro  lad,  viewed  this  a  favour 
able  opportunity  to  escape;  to  effect  which  he  re 
quested  the  lad  to  attempt  an  escape  by  flight,  who 
being  uncommonly  active  he  easily  effected.  The 
plan  of  Mr  Bracket  had  now  its  desired  effect ;  as 
the  old  men  pursuing  the  negro,  left  him  and  his 
family  guarded  only  by  three  squaws,  ^hom  (being 
intoxicated)  he  soon  despatched,  and  returned  the 
day  following  with  his  family  to  Casco,  where  the 
negro  lad  had  arrived  some  hours  before. 


INDIAN  WARS  73 

On  the  15th  the  Indians  attacked  the  dwelling 
house  of  a  Captain  Bonithon  and  Major  Philips, 
situated  on  the  east  side  of  Casco  river.  Having 
seasonable  notice  of  the  hostile  views  of  the  enemy 
the  family  of  the  former,  as  a  place  of  greater  safety, 
had  resorted  to  the  house  of  the  latter  a  few  mo 
ments  previous  to  the  attack.  The  savages  first 
communicated  fire  to  the  house  of  Captain  Bonithon  ; 
next  proceeded  furiously  to  attack  the  dwelling  of 
Major  Philips,  in  which  there  were  about  twenty 
persons,  by  whom  it  was  most  gallantly  defended. 
The  enemy  had  their  leader  and  a  number  of  their 
party  killed  by  the  fire  of  the  English.  Despairing 
of  taking  the  house  by  assault,  they  adopted  a  new 
plan  of  communicating  fire  thereto.  They  procur 
ed  a  carriage  on  which  they  erected  a  stage,  in 
front  of  which  was  a  barricade  rendered  bulletproof, 
to  which  long  poles  were  attached  nearly  £0  feet  in 
length,  and  to  the  ends  were  affixed  every  kind  of 
combustible,  such  as  birch  rinds,  straw,  pitch  pine, 
&c.  The  Indians  were  sheltered  by  the  barricade 
from  the  fire  of  the  English,  while  they  approached 
the  walls  of  the  house  with  their  carriage.  The 
English  were  now  on  the  eve  of  despairing,  when 
fortunately  one  of  the  wheels  of  the  carriage,  being 
brought  in  contact  with  a  rock,  was  turned  com 
pletely  round,  which  exposed  the  whole  body  of  In 
dians  to  their  fire  !  This  unexpected  opportunity 
was  improved  with  the  gratest  advantage  by  the 
English,  who  with  a  few  'rounds  soon  dispersed  the 
enemy  with  no  inconsiderable  loss. 

The  day  following  the  indians  set  fire  to  the  house 
of  a  Mr.  Wakely,  whom  with  his  whole  family  they 
murdered.  A  company  of  the  English,  apprized  of 
their  dangerous  situation.,  marched  to  their  relief, 
but  arrived  too  late  to  afford  them  assistance.  They 
found  the  house  reduced  to  ashes  ;  among  which  they 
found  the  mangled  bodies  of  the  unfortunate  family 
half  consumed  by  fire. 


74  INDIAN  WARS. 

The  savages,  emboldened  by  their  late  success, 
on  the  20th  attacked  a  small  settlement  on  the 
Piscataqua  river,  and  succeeded  in  murdering  a  part, 
and  carrying  away  the  remainder  of  the  inhabitants 
into  captivity.  As  an  instance  of  their  wanton  bar 
barity,  it  should  be  here  mentioned,  that  after  toma 
hawking  and  scalping  one  of  the  unfortunate  women 
of  the  above  place,  they  bound  to  the  dead  body  her 
little  infant  ;  in  which  situation  it  was  the  succeeding 
day  discovered  by  the  English,  attempting  to  draw 
nourishment  from  its  mother's  breast. 

The  Governor  and  Council  of  the  United  Colo 
nies,  conceiving  it  their  duty  if  possible  to  put  a  final 
stop  to  the  ravages  of  the  enemy  in  the  east,  and  to 
prevent  the  further  effusion  of  innocent  blood,  de 
spatched  Major  Wallis  and  Major  Bradford,  with  six 
companies  under  their  command,  to  destroy,  "root 
and  branch,"  the  common  enemy.  On  the  1st  De 
cember  they  arrived  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Kenne- 
beck,  near  where  they  were  informed  the  main  body 
of  the  enemy  were  encamped.  On  the  morning  of 
the  third,  about  the  break  of  day,  they  fell  in  with 
and  attacked  them.  The  enemy,  who  were  about 
800  strong,  appeared  disposed  to  maintain  their 
ground.  They  fought  with  all  the  fury  of  savages, 
and  even  assailed  the  English  from  the  tops  of  lofty 
trees,  which  they  ascended  for  the  purpose.  They 
were  possessed  of  but  few  fire-arms,  but  hurled  their 
tomahawks  with  inconceivable  exactness,  and  check 
ed  the  progress  of  the  cavalry  with  long  spears.  Victo 
ry  for  a  long  time  remained  doubtful.  The  ground  be 
ing  covered  with  snow  greatly  retarded  the  progress 
of  the  troops,  who  probably  would  have  met  with  de 
feat  had  not  a  fresh  company  of  infantry  arrived  in 
time  to  change  the  fortune  of  the  day.  These,  having 
remained  inactive  as  a  body  of  reserve,,  the  comman 
der  found  himself  under  the  necessity  of  calling  to  his 
aid.  The  enemy,  disheartened  at  the  unexpected  ar 
rival  of  the  English,  fled  with  precipitancy  to  the 
woods  ;  but  very  few  of  them,  however,  escaped,  more 


INDIAN    WARS.  75 

than  £00  of  whom  remained  dead  on  the  field  of 
action,  and  double  that  number  were  mortally  wound 
ed.  The  loss  of  the  English  was  55  killed  and  97 
wounded  !  This  engagement,  which  proved  a  decisive 
one,  was  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  English. 
The  great  and  arduous  work  was  now  completed. 
The  few  remaining  Indians  that  inhabited  the  eastern 
country,  now  expressed  a  desire  to  bury  the  bloody 
hatchet,  and  to  make  peace  with  the  English.  Their 
request  was  cheerfully  complied  with,  and  they 
continued  ever  after  the  faithful  friends  of  the  English. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

INVASION  OF  NEW-YORK  AND  NEW  ENGLAND,  AND 
THE  DESTRUCTION  OF  SCHENECTADY  BY  THE 
FRENCH  AND  INDIANS. 

IN  the  year  1690  the  Mohawks,  having  made  sev 
eral  successful  expeditions  against  the  Canadians, 
the  Count  Frontenac,  to  raise  the  depressed  spirits 
of  the  latter  despatched  several  parties  of  French 
and  Indians  to  attack  the  frontier  settlements  of  New 
York  and  New-England.  A  detachment  of  nearly 
500  French  and  Indians  under  the  command  of  Mon- 
sieurs  P.  Aillebout,  De  Waulet  and  Le  Wayne,  were 
despatched  from  Montreal  for  this  purpose.  They 
were  furnished  with  every  thing  necessary  for  a  win 
ter's  campaign.  After  a  march  of  twenty-two  days 
they,  on  the  8th  February,  reached  Schenectady. — 
They  had  on  their  march  been  so  reduced  as  to  har 
bor  thoughts  of  surrendering  themselves  prisoners  of 
war  to  the  English  ;  but  their  spies  (who  Lad  been 
for  several  days  in  the  village,  entirely  unsuspected) 
representing  in  so  strong  terms  the  defenceless  state 
of  the  inhabitants,  as  determined  them  to  make  an 


76  INDIAN    WARS. 

immediate  attack.  They  found  the  gates  open  and 
unguarded.  They  entered  them  about  eleven  o'clock 
at  night,  and  the  better  to  effect  their  hellish  pur 
pose,  divided  their  main  body  into  several  distinct 
parties  of  six  or  seven  men  each  !  The  inhabitants 
were  in  a  profound  sleep,  and  unalarmed  until  the 
enemy  had  broken  open  their  doors  and  with  uplift 
ed  tomahawks  were  surrounding  their  beds  !  Before 

o 

they  had  time  to  rise,  the  savages  began  the  perpe 
tration  of  the  most  inhuman  barbarities  !  No  language 
can  express  the  cruelties  which  were  committed  !  In 
less  than  one  hour  two  hundred  of  the  unfortunate 
inhabitants  were  slain  and  the  whole  village  enwrapt 
in  flames  !  A  detail  of  the  cruelties  committed  by 
the  barbarians  cannot  be  read  without  horror.  They 
ravished,  rifled,  murdered  and  mutilated  the  inhabi 
tants,  without  distintion  of  age  or  sex,  without  any 
other  provocation  or  excitement  than  brutal  lust  and 
wantonness  of  barbarity!  Pregnant  women  were  rip 
ped  open  and  their  infants  cast  into  the  flames  or 
dashed  against  the  posts  of  the  doors  !  Such  mon 
sters  of  barbarity  ought  certainly  to  be  excluded 
from  all  the  privileges  of  human  nature,  and  hunted 
down  as  wild  beasts  without  pity  or  cessation.  A 
very  few  of  the  inhabitants  escaped,  who  in  their 
shirts  (in  a  severe  and  stormy  night)  fled  to  Albany. 
Twenty-five  of  the  fugitives  in  their  flight  perished 
with  cold.  The  enerny3  after  destroying  the  inhabi 
tants,  killed  all  the  horses  and  cattle  which  they 
could  find,  with  the  exception  of  about  thirty  of  the 
former,  which  they  loaded  with  their  plunder  and 
drove  off. 

When  the  news  of  the  horrid  massacre  reached 
Albany,  an  universal  fear  and  consternation  seized 
the  inhabitants.  The  country  became  panic  struck  : 
and  many  entertained  thoughts  of  destroying  the 
town  and  abandoning  that  part  of  the  country  to  the 
enemy. 

A  second  party  of  the  enemy,  which  Count  Fron- 
tenac  had  detached  from  the  main  body  at  the 


INDIAN    WARS.  77 

three  rivers,  under  the  command  of  Sieur  Hartel,  an 
officer  of  distinguished  character  in  Canada,  on  the 
18th  February  fell  upon  Salmon  Falls  (a  plantation 
on  the  river  which  divides  New  Hampshire  from 
the  province  of  Maine.)  This  party  consisted  of  a- 
bout  70  men  ;  more  than  half  of  whom  were  Indi 
ans.  They  commenced  the  attack  at  break  of  day 
in  three  different  places  ;  and  although  the  inhabi 
tants  were  surprised,  yet  they  fled  to  their  arms  and 
defended  themselves  with  bravery  which  even  their 
enemies  applauded  ;  but  they  were  finally  overpow 
ered  by  numbers,  and  43  of  them,  men,  women  and 
children,  fell  victims  to  savage  barbarity.  The  dep 
redations  of  the  French  and  Indians  filled  the  inhab 
itants  of  the  western  country  with  fear  and  alarm. — 
The  Assembly  of  New  York  conceived  it  necessary 
to  make  every  exertion  to  prevent  the  settlement  of 
the  French  at  Albany.  It  was  resolved  that  two  com 
panies  of  100  men  each  should  be  raised  and  sent 
forward  for  that  purpose.  For  the  defence  of  the 
frontier  towns  in  New  England,  it  was  ordered  that 
a  constant  watch  should  be  kept  in  the  several  towns, 
and  that  all  males,  above  18  and  under  60  years 
of  age,  should  be  held  in  readiness  to  march  at 
the  shortest  notice.  On  the  £0th  March,  at  a 
proposed  meeting  of  Commissioners  from  New  York 
and  New  England,  a  plan  was  proposed  and  adopt 
ed  for  invading  Canada.  Eight  hundred  men  were 
ordered  to  be  raised  for  the  purpose  ;  the  quotas  of 
several  colonies  were  fixed,  and  general  rules  adopt 
ed  for  the  management  of  the  army. 

A  small  vessel  was  sent  express  to  England  the 
beginning  of  April,  carrying  a  representation  of  the 
exposed  state  of  the  colonies  and  the  necessity  of 
the  reduction  of  Canada,  A  petition  was  also  for 
warded  to  his  majesty  for  a  supply  of  arms  and  am 
munition,  and  a  number  of  frigates  to  attack  the  en 
emy  by  water,  while  the  colonial  troops  made  an  in 
vasion  by  land.  John  Winthrop  Esq.  was  appointed 
major-general  and  commander  in  chief  of  the  land. 
11 


78  INDIAN     WARS. 

army,  and  arrived  with  the  troops  under  his  com 
mand  near  the  falls  at  the  head  of  Wood  Creek, 
early  in  the  month  of  August. 

When  the  army  arrived  at  the  place  appointed 
for  the  rendezvous  of  the  Indians  from  the  Five  Na 
tions,  (who  had  engaged  to  assist  the  English  ;)  in 
stead  of  meeting  with  that  powerful  body  which  they 
expected,  and  which  the  Indians  had  promised,  there 
were  no  more  than  70  warriors  from  the  Mohawks 
and  Oneidas !  When  the  General  had  advanced  a- 
bout  100  miles,  he  found  that  there  were  not  ca 
noes  sufficient  to  transport  one  half  of  the  English 
across  the  lake.  Upon  representing  to  the  Indians 
the  impossibility  of  the  army's  crossing  into  Canada 
without  a  much  greater  number  of  canoes,  they  re 
plied  that  it  was  then  too  late  in  the  season  to  make 
canoes  ;  as  the  bark  would  not  peel.  In  short  they 
artfully  evaded  every  proposal,  and  finally  told  the 
general  and  his  officers  that  they  looked  too  high  and 
advised  them  only  to  attack  Chambly.  and  the  out 
settlements  on  this  side  of  St.  Lawrence.  Thus  did 
these  Indians,  who  a  few  years  before,  had  so  ha 
rassed  all  the  French  and  Indians  in  Canada,  exhib 
it  the  greatest  proofs  of  cowardice  !  The  English 
finding  it  impossible  to  cross  the  lake  .with  advan 
tage,  returned  to  Albany.  Thus  the  expedition  un 
fortunately  failed. 

In  the  year  1693  Count  Frontenac,  finding  that 
he  could  not  accomplish  a  peace  with  the  Mohawks, 
who  of  all  the  Indians  had  been  by  far  the  most  de 
structive  to  the  settlements  in  Canada,  determined 
on  their  destruction.  He  collected  an  army  of  about 
700  French  and  Indians,  and  having  supplied  them 
with  every  thing  necessary  for  a  winter  campaign, 
sent  them  against  the  Mohawk  castles.  They  com 
menced  their  march  from  Montreal  on  the  15th  Jan 
uary,  1693.  After  enduring  incredible  hardships 
they  fell  in  with  the  first  castle  about  the  10th  Feb 
ruary.  The  Mohawks,  unprepared  for  an  attack, 
had  not  any  idea  of  the  approach  of  the  Canadians. 


INDIAN    WARS.  79 

The  enemy  killed  and  captured  about  50  of  the  Mo 
hawks  at  this  castle  and  then  proceeded  for  the  sec 
ond,  at  which  they  were  equally  successlul.  A  great 
part  of  the  Mohawks  were  at  Schenectady,  and  the 
remainder  perfectly  secure.  When  they  arrived  at 
the  3d  castle  they  found  about  eighty  warriors  collec 
ted  at  a  war  dance,  asihey  designed  the  next  day  to 
go  upon  an  enterprise  against  their  enemies.  A  con 
flict  ensued,  in  which  the  Canadians,  after  loosing 
about  30  men,  were  victorious,  and  the  third  castle 
was  taken.  The  Canadians,  in  their  descent  took  near 
three  hundred  prisoners,  principally  women  and  chil 
dren.  The  brave  Colonel  Sehuyler  of  Albany,  (re 
ceived  information  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy,) 
at  the  head  of  a  party  of  the  volunteers,  of  about 
400  English  and  Dutch,  pursued  them.  On  the  25th 
Febuary  he  was  joined  by  about  300  Indians,  whom 
he  found  lodged  in  a  fortified  camp.  The  Canadians 
made  three  successive  sallies  upon  the  colonel,  and 
were  so  often  repulsed  ;  he  kept  his  ground,  waiting 
for  provisions  and  a  reinforcement  from  Albany.  The 
enemy  at  length  taking  the  advantage  of  a  violent 
snow-storm,  escaped  and  marched  to  Canada.  The 
day  following  Capt  Sims,  with  a  rienforcement  and 
a  supply  of  provisions  arrived  from  Albany,  and  the 
day  succeeding  the  colonel  reasumed  the  pursuit  ;  but 
the  Canadians  luckily  finding  a  cake  of  ice  across  the 
north  branch  of  Hudson  river,  made  their  escape  ;  they 
were,  however,  so  closely  pursued  by  the  English  and 
Dutch,  that  they  could  not  prevent  the^  escape  of 
most  of  their  prisoners,  who  all  with  the  exception 
of  nine  or  ten,  returned  in  safety  to  their  country. — 
Colonel  Schuyler  lost  12  of  his  party,  and  had  19 
wounded.  According  to  the  report  of  the  captives, 
the  enemy  lost  50  men,  five  of  whom  were  French 
officers,  and  two  Indian  guides,  and  about  70  wound- 
ded.  The  Mohawks  on  their  return  found  about  40 
dead  bodies  of  the  enemy,  which  they  scalped  and 
devoured  ;  indeed  so  great  was  their  hunger. 


80  INDIAN    WARS. 


CHAP.  V. 


MASSACRE  OF  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  DEERFIELD 
AND  CAPTIVITY  OF  THE  REV.  JOHN  WILLIAMS 
AND  FAA1ILY  BY  THE  SAVAGES. 


On  the  19lh  February,  1703,  a  large  body  of  In 
dians  from  the  frontiers  assualted  the  town  of  Deer- 
field.  They  entered  the  town  about  midnight,  and 
commenced  an  indiscriminate  butchery  of  the  defence 
less  inhabitants.  Among  others,  they  attacked  the 
house  of  Rev.  Mr.  Williams,  pastor  of  the  parish. 
The  following  are  the  particulars  of  the  melancholy 
transaction,  as  related  by  Mr.  Williams. 

c*They  came  to  my  house  in  the  beginning  of  the 
onset,  and  by  their  violent  endeavours  to  break  open 
doors  and  windows,  with  axes  and  hatchets, awaked 
me  out  of  sleep  ;  on  which  I  leaped  out  of  bed  and 
running  towards  the  door,  perceived  the  enemy  mak 
ing  their  entrance  into  the  house.  I  called  to  awaken 
two  soldiers  in  the  chamber;  and  returned  towards 
my  bed-side,  for  my  arms.  The  enemy  immediately 
broke  into  the  room,  I  judge  to  the  number  of  20, 
with  painted  faces  and  hideous  acclamations.  I 
reached  up  my  hands  to  the  bed-tester,  for  my  pistol, 
uttering  a  short  petition  to  God  for  everlasting  mer 
cy  for  me  and  mine,  on  account  of  the  merits  of  our 
glorified  Redeemer.  Taking  down  my  pistol,  I  cock 
ed  it  and  put  it  to  the  breast  of  the  first  Indian  who 
came  up  :  but  my  pistol  missing  fire,  I  was  siezed  by 
three  Indians,  who  disarmed  me,  and  bound  me  naked, 
as  I, was  in  my  shirt,  and  so  I  stood  for  the  space  of 
an  hour.  Binding  me,  they  told  me  that  I  was  to  be 


INDIAN    WARS.  81 

carried  to  Quebec.  My  pistol  missing  fire  was  the 
occasion  of  my  life's  being  preserved  ;  since  which  I 
have  also  found  it  profitable  to  be  crossed  in  my  own 
will.  The  judgment  of  God  did  not  long  slumber 
against  one  of  the  three  which  took  me,  who  was  a 
captain,  for  by  sun-rise,  he  received  a  mortal  shot 
from  my  next  neighbor's  house  ;  who  opposed  so 
great  a  number  of  French  and  Indians  as  three  hun 
dred,  and  yet  were  no  more  than  seven  men  in  an  un- 
garrisoned  house. 

"  I  cannot  relate  the  distressing  care  I  had  for  my 
dear  wife,  who  had  lain  in  but  a  few  weeks  before, 
and  for  my  poor  children,  family  and  Christian  neigh 
bors.  The  enemy  fell  to  rifling  the  house  and  en 
tered  in  great  numbers  into  every  room  in  the  house. 
I  begged  of  God  to  remember  mercy  in  the  midst  qf 
judgment  ;  that  he  would  so  far  restrain  their  wrath 
as  to  prevent  their  murdering  us  ;  that  we  might 
have  grace  to  glorify  his  name,  whether  in  life  or 
death  ;  and,  as  I  was  able,  committed  our  state  to 
GOD.  The  enemies  who  entered  the  house  were  all 
of  them  Indians  and  Macquas,  insulted  over  me  a 
while  ;  holding  up  hatchets  over  my  head,  threat 
ening  to  burn  all  I  had  ;  but  yet  GOD,  beyond  ex 
pectation,  made  us  in  great  measure  to  be  pitied  ;  for 
though  some  were  so  cruel  and  barbarous  as  to  take 
and  carry  to  the  door  two  of  my  children,  and  mur 
der  them,  as  also  a  negro  woman,  yet  they  gave  me 
liberty  to  put  on  my  clothes,  keeping  me  bound  with 
a  cord  on  one  arm,  till  I  put  on  my  clothes  to  the 
other  ;  and  then  changing  my  cord,  they  let  me  dress 
myself,  and  then  pinioned  me  again.  Gave  liberty  to 
my  dear  wife  to  dress  herself,  and  our  children.  A- 
bout  an  hour  after  sun-rise,  we  were  all  carried  out  of 
the  house,  for  a  march,  and  saw  many  of  my  neigh 
bors'  houses  in  flames,  perceiving  the  whole  fort,  one 
house  excepted,  to  be  taken.  Who  can  tell  what 
sorrows  pierced  our  souls  when  we  saw  ourselves  car 
ried  from  GOD'S  sanctuary,  to  go  into  a  strange  land 
exposed  to  so  many  trials  ?  The  journey  being  at  least 


32  INDIAN   WARS. 

three  hundred  miles  we  were  to  travel  :  the  snow  uy 
to  the  knees,  and  we  never  enured  to  such  hard 
ships  and  fatigues  ;  the  place  we  were  carried 
to,  a  popish  country.  Upon  my  parting  from  the 
town  they  fired  my  house  and  barn.  We  were  car 
ried  over  the  river  to  the  foot  of -the  mountain,  about 
a  mile  from  my  house,  where  we  found  a  great  num 
ber  of  our  Christian  neighbors,  men,  women  and  chil 
dren,  to  the  number  of  an  hundred,  19  of  whom  were 
afterwards  murdered  by  the  way,  and  to  starve  to 
death,  near  Coos,  in  a  time  of  great  scarcity  or  fam 
ine  which  the  savages  underwent  there.  When  we 
came  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  they  took  away 
our  shoes,  and  gave  us  in  the  room  of  them,  Indian 
shoes,  to  prepare  us  for  our  travel.  While  we  were 
there  the  English  beat  out  a  company  that  remain 
ed  in  the  town,  and  pursued  them  to  the  river,  killing 
and  wounding  many  of  them  ;  but  the  body  of  the  ar 
my  being  alarmed,  they  repulsed  those  few  English 
that  pursued  them.  "  After  this,  we  went  up  to  the 
mountain,  and  saw  the  smoke  of  the  fires  in  the  town, 
and  beheld  the  awful  desolation  of  Deerfield  ;  and  be 
fore  we  marched  any  farther,  they  killed  a  sucking 
child  of  the  English.  There  were  slain  by  the  ene 
my,  of  the  Inhabitants  of  our  town,  to  the  number  of 
38,  besides  nine  of  the  neighboring  towns." 

14  When  we  came  to  our  lodging  place  the  first  night, 
they  dug  away  the  snow,  and  made  some  wigwams, 
cut  down  some  of  the  small  branches  of  spruce  trees 
to  lie  down  on,  and  gave  the  prisoners  somewhat  to 
eat  ;  but  we  had  but  little  appetite.  I  was  pinioned 
and  bound  down  that  night,  and  so  I  was  every  night 
whilst  I  was  with  the  army.  Some  of  the  enemy  who 
brought  drink  from  the  town,  fell  to  drinking,  and  in 
their  druken  fit  they  killed  my  negro  man.  the  only 
dead  person  I  either  saw  at  the  town,  or  in  the  way. 
In  the  night  an  Englishman  made  his  escape.  In  the 
morning  I  was  called  for,  and  ordered  by  the  general 
to  tell  the  English,  that  if  any  more  made  their  es 
cape,  they  would  burn  the  rest  of  the  prisoners.  He 


INDIAN    WARS.  83 

that  took  me,  was  unwilling  to  let  me  speak  with  any 
of  the  prisoners  as  we  marched  ;  but,  early  on  the 
second  day,  he  being  appointed  to  the  rear  guard,  I 
was  put  into  the  hands  of  my  other  master,  who  per 
mitted  me  to  speak  to  my  wife,  when  I  overtook  her, 
and  to  walk  with  her,  to  help  her  in  her  journey." 

After  a  fatiguing  journey  of  ten  or  twelve  days,  the 
Indians  reached  their  village  with  their  prisoners  to 
the  number  of  thirty  or  forty,by  whom  they  were  held 
in  captivity,  enduring  almost  incredible  hardships, 
until  the  25th  October  following,  when  an  ambassa 
dor  from  Boston,  Samuel  Appleton,  Esq.  was  des 
patched  to  redeem  such  as  had  survived.  They  took 
passage  at  Quebec,  and  to  the  number  of  fifty-seven, 
arrived  in  safety  at  Boston  on  the  21st  November, 

The  Indians  continued  their  depredations  upon  the 
defenceless  inhabitants  on  the  frontiers,  until  the  year 
1725,  when  a  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  between 
commissioners  appointed  by  the  General  Court  at 
Boston  and  the  Chiefs  of  the  hostile  Indian  tribes.  A 
long  peace  followed,  and  the  Indians  generally  mani 
fested  a  disposition  to  remain  on  friendly  terms  with 
the  English,  and  it  was  supposed  that  they  never 
would  again  be  disposed  to  hostilities,  had  they  never 
been  under  the  immediate  influence  of  French  interest. 
War  was  declared  between  France  and  England  in 
March,  1744.  The  first  year  of  the  war  no  Indians 
made  their  appearance  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
They  had  found  by  experience,  that  to  maintain  an 
open  trade  with  the  English  was  greatly  to  their  in 
terest,  and  consequently  at  first  entered  into  the  war 
with  reluctance. 

The  first  mischief  done  by  the  enemy,  in  this  part 
of  the  country,  in  the  course  of  this  war,  was  in  July 
1745;  when  a  few  Indians  came  to  a  place  called  the 
Great  Meadow,  about  16  miles  above  fort  Drummer, 
on  Connecticut  river ;  two  of  whom  captivated  Wil 
liam  Phipps,  as  he  was  hoing  his  corn. 

October  11.  The  fort  at  the  Great  Meadow  was 
attacked  by  a  large  party  of  French  and  Indians. 


S4  INDIAN    WARS. 

The  attack  was  bold  and  furious,  but  without  success. 
No  lives  were  lost.  Nehemiah  Howe  was  taken  cap 
tive  and  carried  to  Quebec,  where  he  soon  died.  The 
enemy,  on  their  return,  met  one  David  Rugg,  with 
another  person,  passing  down  Connecticut  river  in  a 
canoe.  K,ugg  they  killed  and  scalped,  but  the  other 
with  some  difficulty  made  his  escape. 

On  the  22d  of  the  same  month  a  large  party  of  the 
enemy  came  to  the  upper  Ashwolot,  with  a  design  to 
have  taken  the  fort  by  suprise,  but  being  discovered 
by  a  person  who  was  providentially  at  that  time  at  a 
little  distance  from  the  garrison,  they  were  discon 
certed.  An  action  however  ensued,  which  continued 
for  some  time.  The  enemy  finally  withdrew  In  this 
action  John  Bullard  was  killed,  Nathan  Blake  was 
captivated,  and  the  wife  of  Daniel  APKinne,  being 
out  of  the  fort,  was  overtaken  and  stabbed.  Before 
the  enemy  retired  they  burnt  several  buildings,  which 
was  supposed  to  have  been  done  not  so  much  for  the 
sake  of  mischief  as  to  conceal  their  dead,  there  being 
many  human  bones  afterwards  found  among  the 
ashes. 

August  3.  A  body'of  the  enemy  appeared  at  No.  4. 
Suspicions  of  their  approach  were  excited  by  the 
yelling  of  dogs.  A  scout  was  sent  out  from  the  fort, 
and  had  proceeded  but  a  few  rods  before  they  were 
fired  upon.  Ebenezer  Phillips  was  killed  ;  the  re 
mainder  made  their  escape  to  the  fort  The  enemy 
surrounded  the  garrison,  and  endeavoured  for  three 
days  to  take  it  ;  but  finding  the  efforts  ineffectual  they 
withdrew,  after  having  burnt  several  buildings  and 
killed  all  their  cattle,  horses,  &c.  they  could  find. 

Aug.  11.  Benjamin  Wright,  of  Northfield,  riding 
in  the  wood,  was  fired  on  and  mortally  wounded.  He 
died  in  a  few  hours  after. 

Aug.  20.  An  army  of  about  900  French  and  In 
dians,  under  command  of  Gen.  De  Vaudreuil,  made 
an  attack  on  fort  Massachusetts.  The  fort  was  com 
manded  by  Col.  Hawks,  who  unfortunately  was  not 
in  a  situation  to  defend  it  against  such  a  force,  having 


INDIAN    WARS.  85 

but  37  persons,  men,  women  and  children,  in  the  fort; 
and  being  miserably  provided  with  ammunition.  With 
great  fortitude  he  defended  it  for  23  hours,  and  had 
not  his  ammunition  failed,  it  is  probable  he  never 
would  have  given  up  the  fort.  He  was  finally  neces 
sitated  to  capitulate  ;  and  he  offered  such  articles  as 
were  accepted  by  De  Vandreuil.  One  special  article 
in  this  capitulation  was,  that  none  of  the  prisoners 
should  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians. 
The  next  day,  however,  Vandreuil  divided  the  pris 
oners,  and  delivered  them  one  half,  in  open  violation 
and  contempt  of  the  article.  The  Indians  immedi 
ately  killed  one,  who,  by  reason  of  sickness  was  un 
able  to  travel.  The  prisoners,  were  in  general,  treat 
ed  with  civility  ;  most  of  whom  were  afterwards  re 
deemed.  Col  Hawks  lost  but  one  man  in  the  seige. 
Gen.  De  Vandreuil,  according  to  the  best  accounts 
the  prisoners  could  obtain,  lost  45,  who  were  either 
killed  outright,  or  died  of  their  wounds. 

Immediately  after  the  capture  of  the  fort  a  party 
of  about  50  Indians  came  on  for  the  purpose  of  com 
mitting  depredations  upon  Deerfield.  They  came 
first  upon  a  hill,  at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  south 
meadow,  where  they  discovered  ten  or  twelve  men 
and  children  to  work,  in  a  situation  in  which  they 
might  all  with  ease  be  made  prisoners.  Had  they 
succeeded  in  their  design,  which  was  to  obtain  pris 
oners  rather  than  scalps,  it  is  probable  that  events 
would  not  have  been  so  disastrous  as  they  proved. 
They  were  disconcerted  by  the  following  circum 
stance.  Mr.  Eleazer  Hawks  was  out  that  morning  a 
fowling,  and  was  providentially  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
when  the  enemy  came  down  ;  who  seeing  him,  sup 
posed  they  were  discovered,  and  immediately  fired 
upon  him,  killed  and  scalped  him.  This  gave  an 
alarm  to  the  people  in  the  meadow,  some  of  whom 
were  but  a  few  rods  distance.  The  enemy  were  now 
sensible  that  wrhat  they  did  must  be  done  with  des 
patch.  Accordingly  they  rushed  into  the  meadow. 
12 


S(>  INDIAN  WARS. 

fired  on  Simeon  Amsden,  a  lad,  beheaded  and  scalped 
him.  Messss.  Samuel  Allen,  John  Sadler  and  Ado- 
nijah  Gillet,  ran  a  few  rods  and  made  a  stand  under 
the  bank  of  the  river,  where  they  were  attacked 
with  fury,  and  fought  a  little  tiaie  with  great  brav 
ery  ;  they  were,  however,  soon  overpowered  with 
numbers.  Allen  and  Gillet  felt.  Sadler,  finding 
himself  alone,  ran  across  the  river  and  made  his  es 
cape,  amidst  a  shower  of  balls.  While  this  was  pass 
ing  Oliver  Amsden  was  pursued  a  few  rods,  overta 
ken  and  stabbed,  after  having  his  hands  and  fingers 
cut  in  pieces  by  endeavouring  to  defend  himself  a- 
gainst  the  knives  of  the  enemy.  At  the  same  time 
three  children,  by  the  name  of  Allen,  were  pursued. 
Eunice,  one  of  the  three  was  struck  down  with  a  tom 
ahawk,  which  was  sunk  into  her  head,  but  by  reason 
of  the  haste  in  which  the  enemy  retreated,  she  was 
left  unscalped,  and  afterwards  recovered.  Caleb  Al 
len,  of  Deerfield,  made  his  escape  ;  and  Samuel  was 
taken  captive,  who  was  the  only  prisoner  taken  at  this 
time. 

This  lad  after  a  year  and  nine  months,  was  re 
deemed.  Col.  Hawks  who  was  sent  to  Canada  for 
the  purpose  of  redeeming  captives,  inquiring  for  the 
lad,  was  informed  that  he  was  unwilling  to  be  seen, 
and  that  he  expressed  great  dissatisfaction  on  hearing 
of  his  arrival.  When  he  was  brought  into  the  pres 
ence  of  Col.  Hawks  he  was  unwilling  to  know  him-, 
although  he  was  his  uncle,  and  had  always  been  ac 
quainted  with  him  in  Deerfield.  Neither  would  he 
speak  in  the  English  tongue,  not  that  he  had  forgot 
ten  it,  but  to  express  his  unwillingness  to  return.  He 
made  use  of  various  arts  that  he  might  not  be  ex 
changed  ;  and  finally  could  not  be  obtained  but  by 
threats,  and  was  brought  off  by  force.  In  this  we  see 
the  surprising  power  of  habit.  This  youth  had  lost  his 
affection  for  his  country  and  his  friends  in  the  course 
of  one  year  and  nine  months;  and  had  become  so  at 
tached  to  the  Indians,  and  their  mode  of  living,  as  to 


INDIAN  WARS.  87 

consider  it  the  happiest  life.  This  appears  the  more 
surprising  when  we  consider,  that  he  fared  extremely 
hard,  and  was  reduced  almost  to  a  skeleton. 

Aug.  26.  Capt.  Hobbs,  passing  through  the  woods 
from  No,  4  to  fort  Shirly,  with  40  men,  and  being 
about  12  miles  north-west  of  fort  Drummer,  was  at 
tacked  by  a  large  body  of  the  enemy,,  who  had  pur 
sued  him.  It  being  in  the  middle  of  the  day  he  made 
a  stand  that  his  men  might  recieve  some  refreshment. 
While  they  were  dining  the  scout,  which  were  sent 
upon  the  back  track,  were  fired  on.  Upon  this  Gapt. 
Hobbs  put  his  men  in  as  much  readiness  for  an  action 
as  two  or  three  minutes  would  admit  of.  The  enemy 
came  with  great  fury,  expecting,  no  doubt,  an  immedi 
ate  surrender  ;  but  Gapt.  Hobbs  gave  them  a  warm  re 
ception,  and  fought  for  three  hours  with  such  boldness 
and  fortitude  that,  had  he  and  his  men  been  Romans, 
they  would  have  received  a  laurel,  and  their  names 
handed  down  with  honour  to  the  latest  posterity. 
The  enemy  finally  fled  in  haste,  and  with  great  loss, 
Capt.  Hobbs,  in  this  action  lost  but  three  men,  and 
had  but  three  wounded.  Those  killed  were  Ebenezer 
Mitchell,  Eli  Scott  and  Samuel  Gunn. 

Aug.  2,  about  200  of  the  enemy  made  their  ap 
pearance  at  fort  Massachusetts  which  was  then  un 
der  the  command  of  Capt.  Ephraim  Williams.  A 
scout  was  first  fired  upon,  which  drew  out  Capt.  Wil 
liams,  with  about  30  men.  An  attack  begun  which 
continued  for  some  time  ;  but  finding  the  enemy  nu- 
merour  Capt.  Williams  fought  upon  the  retreat  till  he 
had  again  recovered  the  fort.  The  enemy  soon  with 
drew,  and  with  what  loss  was  unknown.  In  this 
action  one  Abbot  was  killed,  and  Lieut.  Howleyand 
Ezikiel  Wells  were  wounded,  but  recovered. 

This  is  the  last  instance  of  mischief  done  by  the 
enemy  in  the  western  frontiers,  in  what  is  called  the 
first  French  war.  Peace,  however,  was  not  finally 
settled  with  the  Indians  until  October  1749,  when  a 
treaty  was  held  at  Falmouth  by  commissipners  from 


88  INDIAN    WARS. 

the  General  Court  and  the  Chiefs  of  the  Indian 
tribes,  by  whom  a  former  treaty,  with  some  addi 
tions,  was  renewed. 

From  this  important  period,  which  being  the  15th 
day  of  October,  1749,  ought  the  peace  and  prosperi 
ty  of  the  now  flourishing  states  of  New-England  to 
receive  their  date.  It  was  at  this  period  that  her 
hardy  sons  quit  the  sanguinary  field,  and  exchanged 
their  implements  of  death  for  such  as  were  better 
calculated  for  the  cultivation  and  tillage  of  their 
farms.  The  forest,  with  which  they  were  encom 
passed,  no  longer  abounded  with  fierce  and  untutored 
savages;  the  Indian  death  song  and  war-hoop  was  no 
longer  heard  ;  the  greater  part  of  the  Indians  that 
survived  the  many  bloody  engagements,  had  sought 
peace  and  retirement  far  westward  ;  the  prisoners 
which  the  .English  had  captured  were  liberated, 
on  condition  of  resorting  to,  and  remaining  with  them. 
They  proved  faithful  to  their  promise.  They  took 
possession  of  the  country  bounding  on  the  great 
lakes,  and  in  possession  of  which  their  descendants 
remain  to  the  present  day.  A  description  of  whose 
manners  and  customs  will  be  found  in  the  succeeding 
chapter. 

We  shall  close  this  chapter  with  a  few  remarks 
relative  to  the  state,  customs  and  ludicrous  opinions 
of  the  Indians  in  New-England,  when  first  visited  by 
our  forefathers,  and  of  their  rapid  depopulation  since 
that  period. 

We  cannot  even  hazard  a  conjecture  respecting 
the  Indian  population  of  New-England,  at  the  time 
of  its  first  settlement  by  the  English.  Capt.  Smith 
in  a  voyage  to  this  coast,  in  1614,  supposed  that  on 
the  Massachusetts  islands  there  were  about  3000  In 
dians  All  accounts  agree  that  the  sea  coast  and 
neighbouring  islands  were  thickly  inhabited. 

Three  years  before  the  arrival  of  the  Plymouth 
colony  a  very  mortal  sickness,  supposed  to  have  been 
the  plague  or  yellow  fever,  raged  with  great  violence 


INDIAN   WARS,  St) 

among  the  Indians  in  the  eastern  parts  of  New-Eng 
land.  Whole  towns  were  depopulated.  The  living 
were  not  able  to  bury  the  dead  ;  and  their  bones 
were  found  lying  above  ground  many  years  after. 
The  Massachusetts  Indians  are  said  to  have  been  re 
duced  from  30,000  to  300  fighting  men.  In  1633 
the  small  pox  swept  off  great  numbers  of  the  Indians 
in  Massachusetts. 

In  1763  on  the  Island  of  Nantucket,  in  the  space 
of  four  months,  the  Indians  were  reduced  by  a  mor 
tal  sickness  from  320  to  85.  The  hand  of  Provi 
dence  is  notable  in  these  surprising  instances  of  mor 
tality  among  the  Indians  to  make  room  for  the  whites. 
Comparatively  few  have  perished  by  wars  ;  and  the 
descendants  of  the  few  that  were  not  driven  to  the 
westward  by  the  .English,  waste  and  moulder  away, 
and  in  a  manner  unaccountable  disappear. 

The  number  of  Indians  in  the  state  of  Connecti 
cut,  in  1774,  was  1363  ;  but  their  number  is  doubt 
less  much  lessened.  The  principal  part  of  their  pop 
ulation  in  this  state  is  at  Mohegan,  in  the  county  of 
New-London.  These  are  the  descendants  of  the 
Mohegans,  of  whom  frequent  mention  is  made  in  the 
foregoing  pages,  as  being  very  serviceable  (under  the 
command  of  Uncus)  to  the  English  in  their  many  en 
gagements  with  the  natives.  The  Mohegans  have 
ever  exhibited  great  reverence  for  the  descendants 
of  their  royal  sachem.  After  the  death  of  Uncas,  his 
body,  by  his  request,  was  conveyed  to  Norwich  and 
there  interred  in  the  neighborhood  of  one  of  his  forts. 
This  spot  was  selected  by  him  previous  to  his  death, 
and  it  was  his  dying  request  that  the  whole  family  of 
Uncas  should  there  be  buried  ;  a  request  which  has 
been  strictly  complied  with  by  the  Mohegans,  who, 
although  the  distance  is  seven  miles  from  their  own 
burying  ground,  have  and  continue  to  deposit  there 
the  descendants  of  their  revered  sachem. 

The  number  of  Indians  in  Rhode  Island,  1783, 
was  only  525.  More  than  half  of  these  live  in  Charles- 


90  INDIAN    WARS. 

town,  in  the  county  of  Washington,  In  1774  their 
number  was  1483  ;  so  that  in  nine  years  the  decrease 
was  957.  We  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  the 
exact  state  of  the  Indian  population  in  Massachusetts 
and  New-Hampshire.  In  1784  there  Was  a  tribe  of 
about  forty  Indians  at  Norridgwalk,  in  the  province  of 
Maine,  with  some  few  other  scattering  remains  of 
tribes  in  other  parts,  and  a  number  of  towns  thinly 
inhabited  round  Cape  Cod. 

When  the  English  first  arrived  in  America,  the 
Indians  had  no  times  or  places  set  apart  for  religious 
worship.  The  first  settlers  in  New-England  were 
at  great  pains  to  introduce  among  them  the  habits  of 
civilized  life,  and  to  instruct  them  in  the  Christian 
religion.  A  few  years  intercourse  with  the  Indians 
induced  them  to  establish  several  good  and  natural 
regulations. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  ELLIOT,  of  Roxbury,  near  Boston, 
who  has  been  styled  the  great  Indian  apostle,  with 
much  labor  learned  the  Natic  dialect  of  the  Indian 
languages.  He  published  an  Indian  grammar  and 
preached  in  Indian  to  several  tribes,  and  in  1664 
translated  the  Bible  and  several  religious  books  into 
the  Indian  language.  He  relates  several  pertinent 
queries  of  the  Indians  respecting  the  Christian  re 
ligion.  Among  others,  whether  Jesus  Christ,  the 
mediator  or  enterpreter,  could  understand  prayer  in 
the  Indian  language.  If  the  father  be  bad  and  the 
child  goods  why  should  God  in  the  second  command 
ment  be  offended  with  the  child  ?  How  the  Indians 
came  to  differ  so  much  from  the  English  in  the  knowl 
edge  of  God  and  JESUS  CHRIST,  since  they  all 
sprung  from  one  father  ?  Mr.  Elliot  was  indefatiga 
ble  in  his  labours,  and  travelled  through  all  parts  of 
Massachusetts  and  Plymouth  Colonies  as  far  as  Cape 
Cod.  The  colony  had  such  a  veneiation  for  him  that 
in  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  relating  to  In 
dians,  they  express  themselves  thus,  "  By  the  advice 
of  the  said  magistrates  and  of  Mr.  Elliot.' 


INDIAN    WARS.  91 

Concerning  the  religion  of  the  untaught  natives  of 
New  England,  who  once  held  a  plurality  of  deitiesy 
after  the  arrival  of  the  English,  supposed  there  were 
only  three,  because  they  saw  people  of  three  kinds  of 
complexions,  viz,  English,  negroes  and  themselves. 

It  was  a  notion  pretty  generally  prevailing  among 
them,  that  it  was  not  the  same  god  that  made  them 
who  made  us  ;  but  that  they  were  created  after  the 
white  people  ;  and  it  is  probable  they  supposed  their 
god  gained  some  special  skill,  by  seeing  the  white 
people  made,  and  so  made  them  better  ;  for  it  is  cer 
tain  they  looked  upon  themselves,  and  their  methods 
of  living,  which  they  say  their  god  expressly  pre 
scribed  for  them,  vastly  preferable  to  the  white  peo 
ple  and  their  methods. 

With  regard  to  a  future  state  of  existence,  many  of 
them  imagined  that  the  chichung,  i.  e.the  shadow,  or 
what  survived  the  body,  would  at  death  go  south 
ward,  and  in  an  unknown  but  curious  place  would  en 
joy  some  kind  of  happiness,  such  as  hunting,  feast 
ing,  dancing,  and  the  like.  And  what  they  supposed 
would  contribute  much  to  their  happiness  was,  that 
they  should  there  never  be  weary  of  those  entertain 
ments. 

The  natives  of  New  England,  believed  not  only 
plurality  of  gods,  who  made  and  governed  the  sev 
eral  nations  of  the  world,  but  they  made  deities  of 
every  thing  they  imagined  to  be  great,  and  powerful, 
beneficial,  or  hurtful  to  mankind  ;  yet  they  concei 
ved  an  almighty  being,  whom  they  called  Kitchtau, 
who  at  first,  according  to  their  tradition,  made  a  man 
and  woman  out  of  stone,  but  upon  some  dislike  des 
troyed  them  again,  and  then  made  another  couple  out 
of  a  tree,  from  whom  descended  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth,  but  how  they  came  to  be  scatterred  and  dis 
persed  into  countries  so  remote  from  one  another  they 
could  not  tell.  They  believed  their  supreme  god  to 
be  a  good  being,  and  paid  a  sort  of  acknowledgment 
to  him  for  plenty,  victory,  and  other  benefits. 


INDIAN    WARS. 

The  immortality  of  the  soul  was  universally  believ- 
<3:1  among  them.  When  good  men  died,  they  said, 
their  souls  went  Kietchtau,  where  they  met  with  their 
friends,  and  enjoyed  all  manner  of  pleasures  ;  when 
the  wicked  died, they  went  to  Kietchtau  also,  but  were 
commended  to  walk  away  ;  and  so  wander  about  in  rest 
less  discontent  and  darkness  forever. 

The  natives  of  New-England  in  general  were  quick 
of  apprehension,  ingenious,  and  when  pleased  nothing 
could  exceed  their  courtesy  and  friendship.  Gravity 
and  eloquence  distinguished  them  in  council,  address 
and  bravery  in  war.  They  were  not  more  easily  pro 
voked  than  the  English,  but  when  once  they  have  re 
ceived  an  injury,  it  is  never  forgotten.  In  anger,  they 
were  not  like  the  English,  talkative  and  boisterous, 
but  sullen  and  revengeful.  The  men  declined  all  la 
bour  and  spent  their  time  in  hunting,  fishing,  shooting 
and  warlike  exercise.  They  imposed  all  the  drudg 
ery  upon  their  women,  who  gathered  and  brought 
home  their  wood,  planted,  dressed  and  gathered  their 
corn.  When  they  travelled  the  women  carried  their 
children,  packs  and  provisions.  The  women  submit 
ted  patiently  to  such  treatment.  This  ungenerous 
usage  of  their  husbands  they  repaid  with  smiles  and 
good  humour. 

The  clothing  of  the  natives  were  the  skins  of  wild 
beasts.  The  men  threw  a  mantle  of  skins  over  them 
and  wore  a  small  flap,  which  was  termed  Indian 
breeches.  The  women  were  much  more  modest. 
They  wore  a  coat  of  skins  girt  about  their  loins,  which 
reached  down  to  their  hams  ;  which  they  never  put 
off  in  company.  If  the  husband  chose  to  despose  of 
his  wife's  beaver  petticoat,  she  could  not  be  persaud- 
ed  to  part  with  it  until  he  had  provided  another  of 
some  sort.  In  the  winter  their  blankets  of  skins, 
which  hung  loose  in  the  summer,  was  tied  or  wrap 
ped  more  closely  about  them.  The  old  men  in  the 
severe  seasons  also  wore  a  sort  of  trowsers  made  of 
skins  and  fastened  to  their  girdles,  and  on  their  feet 


INDIAN    WARS.  93 

they  wore  moccasons,  made  of  moose  leather,  and 
their  chiefs  or  sachems  wore  on  their  heads  a  cap  dec 
orated  with  feathers. 

Their  houses  or  wigwams  were  at  best  but  miser 
able  cells  ;  they  were  constructed  generally  like  ar 
bours,  or  small  young  trees  bent  and  twisted  togeth 
er,  and  so  curiously  covered  with  mats  or  bark  that 
they  were  tolerably  dry  and  warm.  They  made  their 
fires  in  the  centre  of  the  house,  and  there  was  an  o- 
pening  at  the  top  which  emitted  the  smoke.  For  the 
convenience  of  wood  and  water,  these  huts  were  com 
monly  erected  in  groves,  near  some  river,  brook  or 
living  spring.  When  either  failed,  the  family  remo 
ved  to  another  place. 

They  lived  in  a  poor  low  manner.  Their  food  was 
coarse  and  simple,  without  any  kind  of  seasoning, 
having  neither  spice,  salt  or  bread.  Their  food  was 
principally  the  entrails  of  moose,  deer,  bears,  and  all 
kind  of  wild  beasts  and  fowls.  Of  fish  and  snakes 
they  were  extremely  fond.  They  had  strong  stom 
achs,  and  nothing  came  amiss.  They  had  no  set 
meals,  but  like  other  wild-  creatures  ate  when  they 
were  hungry  and  could  find  any  thing  to  satisfy  the 
cravings  of  nature.  They  had  but  little  food  from  the 
earth  except  what  is  spontaneously  produced.  Indian 
corn,  beans  and  squashes  were  the  only  eatables  for 
which  the  natives  of  New-England  laboured. 

Their  household  furniture  was  of  but  small  value. 
Their  beds  were  composed  of  mats  or  skins.  They 
had  neither  chairs  or  stools,  but  commonly  sat  upon 
the  ground  with  their  elbows  upon  their  knees.  A 
few  wooden  and  stone  vessels  and  instruments  served 
all  the  purposes  of  domestic  life.  Their  knife  was  a 
sharp  stone,  shell  or  kind  of  reed,  which  they  sharp 
ened  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cut  their  hair,  make  their 
bows  and  arrows,  &c.  They  made  their  axes  of  stone, 
which  they  shaped  somewhat  similiar  to  our  axes,  but 
with  the  difference  of  their  being  made  with  a  neck 
instead  of  an  eye,  and  fastened  with  a  withe  like  a 
blacksmith's  chissel. 
13 


94  FNDIAN  WAR?. 

The  manner  of  the  courtship  and  marriage  of  the 
natives  manifested  the  impurity  of  their  morals. 
^When  a  young  Indian  wished  for  marriage  he  preset 
ted  the  girl  with  whom  he  was  enamoured  with  brace- 
letts,  belts,  and  chains  of  wampum.  If  she  received 
%his  presents,  they  cohabited  together  for  a  time  upon 
trial.  If  they  pleased  each  other  they  joined  in  mar 
riage  ;  but  if  after  a  few  weeks,  they  were  not  suited 
the  man,  leaving  his  presents,  quitted  the  girl  and 
sought  another  mistress,  and  she  another  lover.  In 
this  manner  they  courted  until  two  met  who  were 
agreeable  to  each  other. 

The  natives  of  New-England  although  they  consist 
ed  of  a  great  number  of  different  nations  and  clans, 
appear  to  have  spoken  the  same  language.  From 
Piscataqua  to  Connecticut  it  was  so  nearly  the  same 
that  the  different  tribes  could  converse  tolerably  to 
gether.  The  Mohegan  or  Pequot  language  was  es 
sentially  that  of  all  the  Indians  in  New-England.  The 
word  Mohegan  is  a  corruption  of  Muhekaneew,  in 
the  singular,  or  of  Muhkaneek  in  the  plural  number. 
The  Penobscots,  bordering  on  Nova  Scotia  :  the  In 
dians  of  St.  Francois  in  Canada  ;  the  Delawares,  in 
Pennsylvania,  the  Shawnese,  on  the  Ohio,  and  the 
Chippewas,  at  the  westward  of  lake  Huron,  all  now 
speak  the  same  radical  language. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


O'P    THE   DIFFERENT    TRIBES    OF    INDIANS     INHAB 
ITING    THE    WESTERN    COUNTRY. 

As  we  are  now  about  to  speak  of  the  wars  with 
savages  in  the  western  country,  we  shall  commence 
with  a  description  of  their  prevailing  customs  and 
habits. 

They  are  the  descendants  of  those  who  once  in 
habited  the  sea  coasts,  and  who  were  driven  by  the 
English,  as  mentioned  in  the  preceding  chapter,  far 
to  the  westward  ;  so  that  but  few  of  their  descend 
ants  are  now  to  be  found  within  less  than  two  or  three 
hundred  miles  of  the  sea  ;  for  though  many  of  them 
have  been  instructed  in  the  knowledge  of  Christiani 
ty,  and  districts  of  land  have  been  alloted  them  in 
several  of  the  British  colonies,  where  they  have  been 
formed  into  societies  ;  yet  it  has  been  found  that  in 
proportion  as  they  lay  by  their  ancient  customs  and 
conform  to  the  manners  of  civilized  life,  they  dwindle 
away,  either  because  the  changers  prejudicial  to  their 
constitutions,  or  because  when  settled  among  the 
English  they  have  great  opportunities  of  procuring 
spirituous  liquors,  of  which  both  sexes  are  in  general 
inordinately  fond  ;  very  little  care  being  ever  taken  to 
prevent  those  who  are  inclined  to  take  advantage  of 
them  in  trade  from  basely  intoxicating  them  for  that 
purpose.  This  has  a  powerful  effect  on  their  consti 
tutions,  and  soon  proves  fatal,  producing  diseases  to 
which  they  were  formerly  strangers.  Thus  where  a 
few  years  ago  there  were  considerable  settlements  of 
them,  their  name  is  almost  forgotten  ;  and  those 


96  INDIAN    WARS. 

who  still  remain  have,  for  the  most  part,  joined  them 
selves  to  other  nations  in  the  interior  part  of  the  coun 
try  on  jthe  lakes  and  rivers. 

The  Indians  in  Canada,  and  to  the  south  of  it,  are 
tall  and  straight,  beyond  the  proportion  of  most  other 
nations.  Their  bodies  are  strong,  but  as  has  been 
before  observed,  this  is  a  strength  rather  suited  to  en 
dure  the  exercise  of  the  chase  than  much  hard  labour, 
by  which  they  are  soon  consumed.  They  have  gene 
rally  supple  limbs,  and  the  smallest  degree  of  defor 
mity  is  rarely  seen  among  them.  Their  features 
are  regular,  their  complexion  somewhat  of  a  copper 
colour  or  reddish  brown.  Their  hair,  which  is  long, 
black  and  lank,  is  as  strong  as  that  of  a  horse.  They 
carefully  eridicate  the  hair  from  every  part  of  the 
body  except  the  head,  and  they  confine  that  to  a  tuft 
at  the  top  ;  whence  an  erroneous  idea  has  much  pre 
vailed  that  the  men  of  this  country  are  naturally  des 
titute  of  beards  ;  but  it  is  unquestionable  that  it  is 
only  an  artificial  deprivation. 

They  generally  wear  only  a  blanket  wrapped  about 
them,  or  a  shirt,  both  of  which  they  purchase  of  the 
English  traders.  When  the  Europeans  first  came 
among  them  they  found  some  nations  entirely  naked, 
and  others  with  a  corse  cotton  cloth,  wove  by  them 
selves,  round,  the  waist  ;  but  in  the  northern  parts 
their  whole  bodies  were  in  winter  covered  with 
skins. 

The  Huron  Indians  possess  a  very  pleasant  and 
fertile  country  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  lake  which 
bears  the  same  name.  Haifa  century  ago  they  were 
very  numerous,  and  could  raise  six  or  seven  hundred 
warriors,  but  they  have  suffered  greatly  from  the  at 
tacks  of  neighbouring  tribes.  They  differ  in  their 
manners  from  any  of  the  Indian  tribes  with  which 
they  are  surrounded.  They  build  regular  houses, 
which  they  cover  with  bark  ;  and  arc  considered  as 
the  most  wealthy  Indians  on  the  continent,  having  not 
only  many  horses^  but  some  black  cattle  and  swine. 
They  likewise  raise  much  corn,  so  that  after  provid- 


INDIAN    WARS.  97 

ing  for  their  own  wants,  they  are  enabled  to  barter 
the  remainder  with  other  tribes.  Their  country  ex 
tends  150  miles  eastward  of  the  lake,  but  is  nar 
rower  in  the  contrary  direction.  The  soiHs  not  ex 
ceeded  by  any  in  this  part  of  the  world.  The  timber 
is  tall  and  beautiful ;  the  woods  abound  with  gamey 
and  abundance  of  fish  may  be  obtained  from  the  riv 
ers  and  lakes  ;  so  that  if  it  was  well  cultivated,  the 
land  would  equal  that  on  any  part  of  the  sea  coast  of 
North  America.  A  missionary  of  the  order  of  Car 
thusian  friers,  by  permission  of  the  bishop  of  Canada, 
resides  among  them,  and  is  by  them  amply  rewarded 
for  his  services. 

Those  tribes  of  Indians  who  inhabit  the  banks  of 
lakes  Champlain,  George  and  Ontario,  were  former 
ly  called  Iroquots,  but  have  since  been  known  by  the 
name  of  "  the  five  Mohawk  nations,5'  and  Ccthe  Mo 
hawks  of  Canada."  The  former  are  called  Ononda- 
goes,  Oneides,  Senecas,  Tuscarories,  and  Troon- 
dock  ;  these  fought  on  the  side  of  the  English  in  the 
contest  for  territory  with  France.  The  Cohnawah- 
gahs  and  St.  Francois  Indians  joined  the  French. 

The  knowledge  which  we  have  of  the  Indians  fur 
ther  to  the  S.  W.  as  far  beyond  45°  N.  latitude,  is 
chiefly  obtained  from  the  very  worthy  provincial  offi 
cer,  Major  Carver,  who  travelled  intovthose  parts  in 
the  year  1776,  and  whose  placid  manners  and  artless 
sincerity  could  not  fail  of  recommending  him  to  men 
whom  nature  alone  had  instructed.  He  visited  twelve 
nations  of  Indians,  among  which  the  following  ap 
pear  to  be  the  most  considerable.  The  Chipewa, 
who  dwell  to  the  southward  of  lake  Superior,  and  the 
Ottawa,the  Winnebagoesto  the  W.  of  lake  Michigan, 
who  with  the  Saukies,  and  Qttiganmies  occupy  the 
whole  extent  of  country  from  the  lake  to  the  Missi- 
,ippi,  below  42°  N.  lattitude,  where  the  Onsconsin 
river  discharges  itself.  The  Nandowesse,  the  most 
numerous  and  extended  Indian  nation,  inhabit  the 
country  on  the  W.  of  the  Mississippi,  oil  the  borders 
of  Louisiana. 


98  INDIAN    WAKS. 

The  Indians  in  general  are  strangers  to  the  passions 
of  jealousy  ;  and  the  must  profligate  of  their  young 
"men  very  rarely  attnmpt  the  virtue  of  married  wo 
men,  nor  do  such  often  put  themselves  in  the  way  of 
solicitation,  although  the  Indian  women,  in  general, 
are  amorous,  and  before  marriage,  not  less  esteemed 
for  gratifying  their  passions.  It  appears  to  have  been 
a  very;  prevalent  custom  with  the  Indians  of  this 
country,  before  they  became  acquainted  with  the 
Europeans,  to  compliment  strangers  with  their  wives  ; 
and  the  custom  still  prevails,  not  only  among  the  lower 
rank,  but  even  among  the  chiefs  themselves,  who 
consider  such  an  offer  as  the  greatest  proof  of  courtesy 
they  can  give  a  stranger. 

The  men  are  remarkable  for  their  indolence,  on 
which  they  even  seem  to  value  themselves  ;  saying 
that  labour  would  degrade  them,  and  belongs  solely  to 
their  women,  while  they  are  formed  only  for  war,hunt* 
ing  and  fishing  ;  to  form  canoes  and  build  their 
houses.  But  they  frequently  make  the  women  assist 
them  in  these,  besides  attending  to  all  domestic  af 
fairs,  and  cultivating  the  land.  They  have  a  method 
of  lighting  up  their  huts,  with  their  torches.,  made 
of  the  splinters  cut  from  the  pine  or  birch  trees. 

The  Indians  have  generally  astonishing  patience 
and  equanimity  of  mind,  with  the  command  of  every 
passion  except  revenge.  They  bear  the  most  sudden 
and  unexpected  misfortune  with  calmness  and  compo 
sure,  without  uttering  a  word,  or  the  least  change  of 
countenance .  Even  a  prisoner  who  knows  not  wheth 
er  he  may  not  in  a  few  hours  be  put  to  the  most  cruel 
death,  seems  entirely  unconcerned, and  eats  and  drinks 
with  as  much  cheerfulness  as  those  into  whose  hands 
they  had  fallen-  Their  resolution  and  courage  under 
sickness  and  pain  is  really  astonishing.  Even  when 
under  the  shocking  torture  to  which  prisoners  are 
frequently  exposed,  they  will  not  only  make  them 
selves  cheerful, but  provoke  and  irirtate  their  tormen^ 
tors  by  the  most  severe  reproaches. 


INDIAN  WARS.  99 

They  are  graceful  in  their  deportment  upon  serious 
occasions,  observant  of  those  in  company,  respectful 
to  the  old,  of  a  temper  cool  and  deliberate,  by  which 
they  are  never  in  haste  to  speak  before  "they  have 
well  thought  of  the  matter,  and  sure  that  the  person 
who  spoke  before  them  has  finished  all  that  he  had 
to  say.  In  their  public  councils,  every  man  is  heard 
in  his  turn  according  to  his  years,  his  wisdom  or  his 
services  to  his  country  have  ranked  him.  Not  a  whis 
per  nor  a  murmur  is  heard  from  the  rest  while  he 
speaks  ;  no  indecent  commendations,  no  ill-timid  ap 
plause.  The  young  attend  for  their  instruction  ;  for 
here  they  learn  the  history  of  their  nation,  are  ani 
mated  by  those  who  celebrate  the  warlike  actions  of 
their  ancestors  ;  who  are  taught  what  is  the  interest 
of  their  country,  and  how  to  cultivate  and  pursue  it. 

Hospitality  is  exercised  among  them  with  the  ut 
most  generosity  and  good  will.  Their  houses,  their 
provisions, and  even  their  young  women  are  presented 
to  a  guest.  To  those  of  their  own  nation  they  are 
likewise  very  humane  and  beneficent.  If  any  of  them 
succeed  ill  in  hunting, if  the  harvest  fails,  or  his  house 
is  burnt  he  feels  no  other  effects  of  his  misfortune 
than  its  giving  him  an  opportunity  of  experiencing  the 
benevolence  and  re^ard'of  his  countrymen^  who  for 
that  purpose,  have  almost  every  thing  in  common. 
But  to  the  enemies  of  his  country,  or  to  those  who 
have  privately  offended  him,  the  native  American  is 
implacable.  He  never  indeed  makes  use  of  oaths,  or 
indecent  expressions,  but  cruelly  conceals  his  senti 
ments,  till  by  treachery  or  surprise  he  can  gratify  his 
revenge.  No  length  of  time  is  sufficient  to  allay  his 
resentment  ;  no  distance  of  place  is  great  enough  to 
protect  the  object;  he  crosses  the  steepest  mountains^ 
pierces  impervious  forests  and  traverses  the  most 
hideous  deserts  ;  bearing  the  inclemency  of  the  sea 
son,  the  fatigue  of  the  expedition,  the  extremes  of 
hunger  and  thirst  with  patience  and  cheerfulness,  in 
hopes  of  surprising  his  enemy, and  exercising  upon  him 
the  most  shocking  barbarities.  When  these  cannot 


100  INDIAN   WARS. 

be  effected,  the  revenge  is  left  as  a  legacy  transferee! 
from  generation  to  generation,  from  father  to  son,  till 
an  opportunity  offers  of  taking  what  they  think  ample 
satisfaction^  To  such  extremes  do  the  Indians  push 
their  friendship,  or  their  enmity  ;  and  such  indeed  is 
in  general,  the  character  of  all  uncivilized  nations. 
They,  however,  esteem  nothing  so  unworthy  a  man 
of  sense,  as  a  peevish  temper,  and  a  proneness  to  a 
sudden  and  rash  anger. 

On  the  other  hand,  they  are  highly  sensible  of  the 
utility  and  pleasures  of  friendship  ;  for  each  of  them 
at  a  certain  age,  makes  choice  of  some  one  nearly  of 
the  same  standing  in  life  to  be  their  most  intimate  and 
bosom  friend.  These  two  enter  into  mutual  engage- 
ments,  by  which  they  oblige  themselves  to  brave  any 
danger  and  run  any  risk  to  assist  and  support  each 
other.  This  attachment  is  even  carried  so  far  as  to 
overcome  the  fear  of  death,  which  they  consider  as 
only  a  temporary  separation,  being  persuaded  that 
they  shall  meet  and  be  united  in  friendship  in  the 
other  world,  never  to  be  separated  more  ;  and  that 
there  they  shall  need  one  another's  assistance  as 
well  as  here. 

It  does  not  appear  that  there  is  any  Indian  nation 
that  has  not  some  sense  of  a  Deity,  and  a  kind  of  su 
perstitious  religion.  Their  ideas  of  the  nature  and 
attributes  of  God  are  very  obscure,  and  some  of  them 
absurd,  though  they  conceive  of  him  as  the  Great 
Spirit;  but  imagine  that  his  more  immediate  residence 
is  on  the  Island  of  the  Great  Lakes.  They  seem  to 
have  some  idea  that  there  are  spirits  of  a  higher  order 
than  man,  and  supposing  them  to  be  every  where 
present,  frequently  invoke  them,  and  endeavour  to 
act  agreeable  to  their  desires.  They  likewise  imagine 
that  there  is  an  evil  spirit,  who  they  say  is  always  in 
clined  to  mischief,  and  bears  great  sway  in  the  crea 
tion.  This  indeed  is  the  principal  object  of  their 
devotion.  They  generally  address  him  most  heartily 
beseeching  him  to  do  them  no  harm.  But  sup 
posing  the  others  to  be  propitious,  and  ever  inclined 


INDIAN    WARS.  101 

to  do  good,  they  intreat  those  spirits  to  bestow  bless 
ings  upon  them  and  prevent  the  evil  spirit  from  hurt 
ing  them.  Major  Carver  relates,  that  one  of  the 
most  considerable  chiefs  among  the  Ottawas,  with- 
whom  he  remained  a  night,  on  attending  him  to  his 
canoe  the  next  morning,  with  great  solemnity  and  in 
an  audible  voice  offered  up  a  fervent  prayer,  as  he 
entered  his  canoe,  "  that  the  Great  Spirit  would  fa 
vour  him  with  a  prosperous  voyage  ;  that  he  would 
give  him  an  unclouded  sky  and  smooth  waters  by  day, 
and  that  he  might  lie  down  by  night  on  a  beaver 
blanket,  enjoying  uninterrupted  sleep  and  pleasant 
dreams  ;  and  that  he  might  find  continual  security 
under  the  great  pipe  of  peace."  To  procure  the 
protection  of  the  good  spirit  they  imagine  it  neces 
sary  to  distinguish  themselves,  and  that  they  must, 
above  all  other  atttainments,  become  good  warriors, 
expert  hunters  and  steady  marksmen. 

Their  priests  often  persuade  the  people  that  they 
have  revelations  of  future  events,  and  are  authorised 
to  command  them  to  pursue  such  and  such  measures. 
They  also  undertake  to  unfold  the  mysteries  of  reli 
gion  and  to  solve  and  interpret  all  their  dreams.  They 
represent  the  other  world  as  a  place  abounding  with 
an  inexhaustible  plenty  of  every  thing  desirable, where 
they  shall  enjoy  the  most  full  and  exquisite  gratifica 
tion  of  all  their  senses.  This  is  doubtless  the  motive 
that  induces  the  Indian  to  meet  death  with  such  indif 
ference  and  composure  ;  none  of  them  being  in  the 
least  dismayed  at  the  news  that  he  has  but  a  few 
hours  or  minutes  to  live,  but  with  the  greatest  intre 
pidity  sees  himself  upon  the  brink  of  being  separated 
from  all  terrestial  things,  and  with  great  serenity 
talks  to  all  around  him.  Thus  a  father  leaves  his 
dying  advice  to  his  children,  and  takes  a  formal  leave 
of  all  his  friends. 

They  testify  great  indifference  for  the  productions 

of  art  :  "  It  is  pretty,  I  like  to  look  at  it,"  but  express 

no  curiosity  about  its  construction.      Such,  however, 

is  not  their  behaviour  when  they  are  told  of  a  person 

14 


• 

102  INDIAN    WARS. 

who  distinguishes  himself  by  agility  in  running  ;  is 
well  skilled  in  hunting  ;  can  take  a  most  exact  aim; 
work  a  canoe  along  a  rapid  with  great  dexterity  ;  is 
skilled  in  all  the  arts  which  their  stealthy  mode  of 
carrying  on  a  war  is  capable  of;  or  is  acute  in  discov 
ering  the  situation  of  a  country,  and  can,  without  a 
guide,  pursue  his  proper  course  through  a  vast  forest 
and  sustain  hunger,  thrist  and  fatigue  with  invincible 
firmness  ;  at  such  a  relation  their  attention  is  roused. 
They  listen  to  the  interesting  tale  with  delight,  and 
express  in  the  strongest  terms  their  esteem  for  so 
great  and  so  wonderful  a  man. 

They  generally  bury  their  dead  with  great  decen 
cy,  and  deposit  in  the  grave  such  articles  as  the  de 
ceased  had  made  the  greatest  use  of,  and  been  most 
attached  to  ;  as  his  bow  and  arrows,  pipes,  tobacco, 
&,c.  that  he  may  be  not  in  want  of  any  thing  when 
he  comes  to  the  other  country.  The  mothers  mourn 
for  their  children  a  long  time,  and  the  neighbours 
make  presents  to  the  father,  and  he  in  return  gives 
them  a  feast. 

Every  band  has  a  leader,  who  bears  the  name  of 
sachem  or  chief  warrior,  and  is  chosen  for  his  tried 
valour  or  skill  in  conducting  the  war.  To  him  is 
entrusted  all  military  operations  ;  but  his  authority 
does  not  extend  to  civil  affairs,  that  pre-eminence  be 
ing  given  to  another,  who  possesses  it  by  a  kind  of 
hereditary  claim,  and  whose  assent  is  necessary  to 
render  valid  all  conveyances  of  land,  or  treaties  of 
whatever  kind,  to  which  he  affixes  the  mark  of  the 
tribe  or  nation.  Though  these  military  and  civil 
chiefs  are  considered  the  heads  of  the  band,  and  the 
latter  is  usually  stylor]  king,  yet  the  American  Indians 
consider  themselves  as  controlled  by  neither  civil  or 
military  authority.  Every  individual  regards  himself 
as  free  and  independent,  and  would  never  renounce 
the  idea  of  liberty  ;  therefore  injunctions,  conveyed 
in  the  style  of  a  positive  command,  would  be  disre 
garded  and  treated  with  contempt.  Nor  do  their 
leaders  assume  an  ascendancy  repugnant  to  these 


INDIAN  WARS,  103 

} 

sentiments,  but  merely  advise  what  is  n  ecessary  to  be 
done,  which  is  sufficient  to  produce  the  most  prompt 
and  effectual  execution,  never  producing  a  murmur. 

Their  great  council  is  compos  ed  of  the  heads  of 
tribes  and  families,  and  of  those  whose  capacity  has 
raised  them  to  the  same  degree  of  consideration. 
They  meet  in  a  house  built  in  each  of  their  towns  for 
that  purpose,  and  also  to  receive  ambassadors,  to  de 
liver  them  an  answer,  to  sing  their  traditionary  songs, 
or  to  commemorate  the  dead.  In  these  councils  they 
propose  all  such  matters  as  concern  the  state,  and 
which  have  been  already  digested  in  the  secret  coun 
cils,  at  which  none  but  the  head  men  assist.  The 
chiefs  seldom  speak  much  themselves  at  these  gene 
ral  meetings,  but  entrust  their  sentiments  with  a  per 
son  who  is  called  their  speaker  or  orator,  there  being 
one  of  this  profession  in  every  tribe  or  town  ;  and 
their  manner  of  speaking  is  natural  and  easy,  their 
words  strong  and  expressive,  their  style  bold,  figur 
ative  and  laconic,  whatever  is  told  tending  either 
for  the  judgment  or  to  rouse  the  passions. 

When  any  business  of  consequence  is  transacted 
they  appoint  a  feast  upon  the  occasion,  of  which  al 
most  the  whole  nation  partakes.  Before  the  enter 
tainment  is  ready  the  principal  person  begins  with  a 
song  on  the  remarkable  events  of  their  history,  and 
whatever  may  tend  to  to  their  honour  or  instruction. 
The  others  sing  in  their  turn.  They  also  have  dances 
chiefly  of  a  martial  kind,  and  no  solemnity  or  public 
business  is  carried  on  without  songs  and  dances. 

As  the  Indians  are  high  spirited  and  soon  irritated, 
the  most  trifling  provocations  frequently  rouse  them 
to  arms,  and  prove  the  occasion  of  bloodshed  and 
murder.  Their  petty  private  quarrels  are  often  de 
cided  this  way,  and  expeditions  undertaken  without 
the  knowledge  or  consent  of  the  general  council. 
These  private  expeditions  are  winked  at  and  excused 
as  a  means  of  keeping  their  young  men  in  action,  and 
inuring  them  to  the  exertions  of  war. 


104  INDIAN    WARS. 

But  when  war  becomes  a  national  affair,  it  is  enter 
ed  upon  with  great  deliberation.  They  first  call  an 
assembly  of  sachems  or  chief  warriors,  to  deliberate 
upon  the  affair,  and  every  thing  relating  to  it.  In  this 
general  congress  among  the  nothern  Indians  and  Five 
Nations,  the  women  have  a  voice  as  well  as  the  men. 
When  they  are  assembled  the  chief  sachem  or  presi 
dent  proposes  the  affair  they  have  met  to  consult  up 
on,  and  taking  up  the  tomahawk,  which  lies  by  him, 
says,  awho  among  you  will  go  and  fight  against  such 
a  nation?  Who  among  you  will  bring  captives  from 
thence  to  replace  our  deceased  friends,  that  our 
wrongs  may  be  revenged  and  our  name  and  honour 
maintained  as  long  as  the  rivers  flow,the  grass  grow?5 
or  the  sun  and  moon  shall  endure  V  Then  one  of  the 
principal  warriors  rising, harrangues  the  whole  assem 
bly,  and  afterwards,  addressing  himself  to  the  young 
men,  inquiries  who  will  go  with  him,  and  fight  their 
enemies?  When  they  generally  rise,  one  after  anoth 
er,  and  fall  in  behind  him,  while  he  walks  round  the 
circle  till  he  is  joined  by  a  sufficient  number. 

On  such  occasions  they  usually  have  a  deer,  or 
some  other  beast,  roasted  whole  ;  and  each  of  them, 
as  they  consent  to  go  to  war,  cuts  off  a  piece  and  eats, 
saying,  "Thus  will  I  devour  our  enemies;"  mention 
ing  the  nation  they  are  going  to  attack.  The  cere 
mony  being  performed,  the  dance  commences,  and 
they  sing  their  war  song,  which  has  relation  to  their 
skill,  courage  and  dexterity  in  fighting,  and  the  man 
ner  in  which  they  will  vanquish  their  enemies.  Their 
expressions  are  'strong  and  pathetic,  accompanied 
with  a  tone  that  inspires  terror. 

Such  is  the  influence  of  their  won?en  in  this  con 
sultation,  that  the  issue  depends  much  upon  them. 
If  any  one  of  them,  in  conjunction  with  the  chiefs, has 
a  mind  to  excite  one  who  does  not  immediately  de 
pend  upon  them  to  take  an  active  part  in  their  war, 
she  presents,  by  the  hand  of  some  trusty  young  war 
rior,  a  string  of  wampum  to  the  purson  whose  help 


INDIAN    WARS.  105 

she  solicits,  which  seldom  fails  of  producing  the  ef 
fect.  But  when  they  solicit  an  offensive  or  defensive 
alliance  with  a  whole  nation,  they  send  an  embassy 
with  a  large  belt  of  wampam  and  a  bloody  hatchet, 
inviting  them  to  come  and  drink  the  blood  of  their 
enemies. 

The  wampum  used  on  these  and  other  occasions, 
before  their  acquaintance  with  Europeans,  was  only 
small  shells,  which  they  picked  up  by  the  sea-coasts 
and  on  the  banks  of  the  lakes.  It  now  consists  prin 
cipally  of  a  kind  of  cylindrical  beads,  made  of  white 
and  black  shells,  which  are  esteemed  among  them  as 
silver  and  gold  are  among  us.  The  black  they  think 
the  most  valuable.  Both  of  them  are  their  greatest 
riches  and  ornaments,  answering  all  the  ends  of  mo 
ney  among  us.  They  have  the  art  of  stringing  twist 
ing  and  interweaving  them  into  their  belts,  collars, 
blankets,  &c.  in  ten  thousand  different  sizes^  forms 
and  figures,  so  as  not  only  to  be  ornaments  for  every 
part  of  dress,  but  expressive  of  all  their  important 
transactions.  They  dye  the  wampum  of  various  col 
ours  and  shades  ;  and  so  they  are  made  significant  of 
almost  every  thing  they  please.  By  these  their  re 
cords  are  kept  and  their  thoughts  communicated  to 
one  another,  as  ours  are  by  writing.  Thus  the  belts 
that  pass  from  one  nation  to  another,  in  all  important 
transactions,  are  carefully  preserved  in  the  cabin  of 
their  chiefs,  and  serve  both  as  a  kind  of  record  or 
history,  and  as  a  public  treasure.  Hence  they  are 
never  used  on  trifling  occasions. 

The  calmut  or  pipe  of  peace,  is  of  no  less  impor 
tance,  nor  is  it  less  revered  among  them.  The  bowl 
of  this  pipe  is  made  of  a  kind  6f  soft  red  stone,  easily 
wrought,  and  hollowed  out ;  the  stem  is  of  cane,  or  a 
kind  of  light  wood,  painted  with  different  colours, 
and  adorned  with  the  heads,  tails  and  feathers  of  the 
most  beautiful  birds,  &c.  The  use  of  the  calmut  is 
to  smoke  either  tobacco,  or  some  other  herb  used  in 
stead  of  it,  when  they  enter  into  an  alliance  or  any 
solemn  engagement ;  this  being  esteemed  the  most 


106  INDIAN    WARS. 

sacred  oath  that  can  be  taken,  the  violation  of  which 
is  thought  to  be  most  infamous,  and  deserving  severe 
punishment  in  the  other  life.  When  they  treat  of 
war  the  whole  pipe  and  all  its  ornaments  are  red  ; 
sometimes  it  is  red  only  on  one  side,  and  by  the  dis 
position  of  the  feather,  #c.  a  person  acquainted  with 
their  customs,  knows  at  first  sight  the  intentions  or 
desires  of  the  nation  which  presents  it.  Smoking  the 
calmut  is  also  upon  some  occasions,  and  in  all  trea 
ties,  considered  as  a  sacred  oath,  as  a  seal  of  their 
decrees,  and  a  pledge  of  their  performance  of  them. 
The  size  and  decorations  of  their  calmuts  are  com 
monly  proportioned  to  the  importance  of  the  occasion, 
to  the  quality  of  the  persons  to  whom  they  are  pre 
sented,  and  to  the  esteem  and  regard  they  have  for 
them. 

Another  instrument  of  great  importance  among 
them  is  the  tomahawk.  This  is  an  ancient  weapon 
used  by  them  in  war,  before  they  were  taught  the 
use  of  iron  or  steel  ;  since  which  hatchets  have  been 
substituted  in  the  room  of  them  ;  but  it  retains  its  use 
and  importance  in  public  transactions,  and,  like  the 
pipe  is  very  significant.  This  instrument  is  formed 
in  some  respects  like  a  hatchet,  having  a  long  handle: 
the  head,  which  is  a  round  knob  of  solid  wood,  calcu 
lated  to  knock  a  man  down,  has  on  the  other  side  a 
point  bending  a  little  toward  the  handle,  and  near  the 
centre,  where  the  handle  pierces  the  head,  another 
point  projects  forward,  of  a  considerable  length, which 
serves  to  thrust  with  like  a  speai .  The  tomahawk  is 
also  ornamented  with  painting  and  feathers,  disposed 
and  variegated  in  many  significant  forms,  according 
to  the  occasion  and  end  for  which  they  are  used;  and 
on  it  are  kept  a  kind  of  a  journal  of  their  marches  and 
most  important  occurrences  in  a  kind  of  hieroglyph 
ics.  When  the  council  is  called  to  deliberate  on  war 
the  tomahawk  is  coloured  red  ;  and  when  the  council 
sits  it  is  laid  down  by  the  chief,  and  if  war  be  con 
cluded  upon  the  captain  of  the  young  warriors  takes 
it  up,  and  holding  it  in  his  hand,  dances  and  sings 


INDIAN  WARS,  107 

the  war  song.  When  the  council  is  over  this,  or  some 
other  of  the  same  kind,  is  sent  by  the  hands  of  the 
same  warrior  to  every  tribe  concerned  ;  who  with  it 
presents  a  belt  of  wampum  and  delivers  his  message 
throwing  a  tomahawk  on  the  ground,  which  is  taken 
up  by  one  of  the  most  expert  warriors,  if  they  choose 
to  join  ;  if  not,  it  is  returned  with  a  belt  of  their 
wampum  suited  to  the  occasion. 

Each  nation  or  tribe  has  its  distinct  ensigns,  gen 
erally  consisting  of  some  beast,  bird  or  fish.  Thus 
the  Five  Nations  have  the  bear,  otter,  wolf,  tortoise 
and  eagle  ;  by  these  names  the  tribes  are  generally 
distinguished,  and  the  shapes  of  these  animals  are 
pricked  and  painted  on  several  parts  of  their  bodies. 
Generally,  when  they  march  through  the  woods, 
they,  at  every  encampment,  cut  the  figure  of  their 
arms  on  the  trees,  especially  when  they  have  had  a 
successful  campaign,  that  travellers  may  know  that 
they  have  been  there  ;  recording  also  in  their  way 
the  number  of  prisoners  and  scalps  that  they  have 
taken. 

Their  military  appearance  is  very  odd  and  terrible. 
They  cut  off  all  their  hair,  except  a  spot  on  the  crown 
of  their  head,  and  pluck  out  their  eye-brows.  The 
lock  left  upon  the  head, is  divided  into  several  parcels, 
each  of  which  is  stiffened  and  intermixed  with  beads 
and  feathers  of  various  shapes  and  colours,  the 
whole  twisted  and  connected  together.  They  paint 
themselves  with  a  red  pigment  down  to  the  eye 
brows,  which  they  sprinkle  over  with  white  down. 
The  gristle  of  their  ears  are  slit  almost  quite  round, 
and  hung  with  ornaments  that  have  generally  the 
figure  of  some  bird  or  beast  drawn  upon  them.  Their 
noses  are  likewise  bored  and  hung  with  beads,  and 
their  faces  painted  with  various  colours.  On  their 
breasts  are  a  gorget  or  medal  of  brass,  copper,  or 
some  other  metal  ;  and  by  a  string  which  goes  round 
their  necks  is  suspended  that  horrid  weapon  called 
the  scalping  knife. 


108  INDIAN    WARS. 

Thus  equipped,  they  march  forth,  singing  their  war- 
song,  till  they  lose  sight  of  their  village  ;  and  are 
generally  followed  by  their  women,  who  assist  them 
in  carrying  their  baggage,  whether  by  land  or  water, 
but  commonly  return  before  they  proceed  to  action. 

They  have  generally  one  commander  for  ten  men  ; 
and  if  the  number  amounts  to  one  hundred  a  general 
is  appointed  over  the  others,  not  properly  to  com 
mand,  but  to  give  his  opinion.  They  have  no  stated 
rules  of  discipline,  or  fixed  methods  of  carrying  on  a 
war,  but  make  their  attacks  in  as  many  different  ways 
as  there  are  occasions,  but  generally  in  flying  parties, 
equipped  for  that  purpose. 

The  weapons  used  by  those  who  trade  with  the 
English  and  French  are  commonly  a  firelock;  a  hatch 
et  and  a  scalping  knife  ;  but  the  others  use  bows, 
tomahawks  and  pikes.  As  the  commander  in  chief 
governs  only  by  advice,  and  can  neither  reward  nor 
punish,  every  private  may  return  home  when  he 
pleases  without  assigning  any  reason  for  it  ;  or  any 
number  may  leave  the  main  body  and  carry  on  a  pri 
vate  expedition,  in  whatever  manner  they  please, 
without  being  called  to  account  for  their  conduct. 

When  the  Indians  return  from  a  successful  cam 
paign  they  contrive  their  inarch  so  as  not  to  ap 
proach  their  village  till  toward  the  evening.  They 
then  send  two  or  three  forward  to  acquaint  their 
chief  and  the  whole  village  with  the  most  material 
circumstances  of  their  campaign.  At  day-light  next 
morning  they  give  their  prisoners  new  clothes,  paint 
their  faces  with  various  colours,  and  put  into  their 
hands  a  white  staff,  tasselled  round  with  the  tails  of 
deer.  This  being  done,  the  war  captain  sets  up  a 
cry,  and  gives  as  many  yells  as  he  has  taken  prison 
ers  and  scalps,  and  the  whole  village  assemble  at  the 
water  side.  As  soon  as  the  warriors  appear,  four  or 
five  of  their  young  men,  well  clothed,  get  into  a 
canoe,  if  they  come  by  water,  or  otherwise  march 
by  land  :  the  two  first  carrying  each  a  calmut,  go 
out  singing  to  search  the  prisoners,  whom  they  lead 


INDIAN    WARS.  10?) 

in  triumph  to  the  cabin  where  they  -are  to  receive 
their  doom.  The  owner  of  this  cabin  has  the  power 
of  determining  their  fate,  though  it  is  often  left  to  some 
woman  who  has  lost  her  husband,  brother,  or  son,  in 
the  war  ;  and  when  this  is  the  case,  she  generally 
adopts  him  in  the  place  of  the  deceased.  The  pris 
oner  has  victuals  immediately  given  him,  and  while  he 
is  at  his  repast,  a  consultation  is  held;  and  if  it  be  re 
solved  to  save  his  life,  two  young  men  untie  him,  and 
taking  him  by  the  hands,  lead  him  to  the  cabin  of  the 
person  into  whose  family  he  is  to  be  adopted,  and 
there  he  is  received  with  all  imaginable  marks  of 
kindness.  He  is  treated  as  a  friend,  as  a  brother,  or  as 
a  husband,  and  they  soon  love  him  with  the  same  ten 
derness  as  if  he  stood  in  the  place  of  one  of  their 
friends.  In  short,  he  has  no  other  marks  of  captivity 
but  his  not  being  suffered  to  return  to  his  own  nation; 
for  his  attempting  this  would  be  punished  with  cer 
tain  death.  But  if  the  sentence  be  death, how  different 
their  conduct.  These  people,  who  behave  with  such 
disinterested  affection  to  each  other;  with  such  tender 
ness  to  those  whom  they  adopt;  here  show  that  they 
are  truly  savages.  The  dreadful  sentence  is  no  sooner 
passed,  than  the  whole  village  set  up  the  death-cry  ; 
and,  as  if  there  was  no  medium  between  the  most 
generous  friendship  and  the  most  inhuman  cruelty  ; 
for  the  execution  of  him  whom  they  had  just  before 
deliberated  upon  admitting  into  their  tribe,  is  no 
longer  deferred  than  whilst  they  can  make  the  neces 
sary  preparations  for  rioting  in  the  most  diabolical 
cruelty.  They  first  strip  him,  and  fixing  two  posts 
in  the  ground,  fasten  to  them  two  pieces  from  one  to 
the  other;  one  about  two  feet  from  the  ground,  the 
other  about  five  or  six  feet  higher;  then  obliging  the 
unhappy  victim  to  mount  upon  the  lower  cross  piece, 
they  tie  his  legs  to  it  a  little  assunder.  His  hands  are 
extended  and  tied  to  the  angles  formed  by  the  upper 
piece.  In  this  posture,  they  burn  him  all  over  the 
body,  sometimes  first  daubing  him  with  pitch.  The 
whole  village,  men,  women,  and  children,  assem- 
15 


110  INDIAN     U'AKS. 

9 

ble  round  him,  every  one  torturing  him  in  what  man 
ner  they  please  ;  each  striving  to  exceed  the  other  in 
cruelty,  as  long  as  he  has  life.  But  if  none  of  the  by 
standers  are  inclined  to  lengthen  out  his  torments,  he 
is  either  shot  to  death,  or  enclosed  with  dry  bark,  to 
which  they  set  fire  ;  they  then  leave  him  on  the  frame 
and  in  ths  evening  run  from  cabin,  to  cabin,  supersti- 
tiously  striking  with  small  twigs,  the  furniture,  walls, 
and  roofs,  to  prevent  his  spirit  from  remaining  there 
to  take  vengeance  for  the  evils  committed  on  his  body. 
The  remainder  of  the  day,  and  night  following,  is 
spent  in  rejoicing. 

This  is  the  most  usual  method  of  murdering  their 
prisoners.  But  sometimes  they  fasten  them  to  a  sin 
gle  stake,  and  build  a  fire  around  them.  At  other 
times,  they  cruelly  mangle  their  limbs,  cut  off  their 
fingers  and  toes,  joint  by  joint  ;  and  sometimes,  scald 
them  to  death. 

What  is  most  extraordinary,  if  the  sufferer  be  an 
Indian,  there  seems,  during  the  whole  time  of  his  ex 
ecution,  a  contest  between  him  and  his  tormenters, 
which  shall  outdo  the  other,  they  inflicting  the  most 
horrid  pains,  or  he  in  enduring  them.  Not  a  groan, 
nor  a  sigh,  nor  a  distortion  of  countenance,  escapes 
him  in  the  midst  of  his  torments.  It  is  even  said, 
that  he  recounts  his  own  exploits,  informs  them  what 
cruelties  he  has  inflicted  upon  their  countrymen,  and 
threatens  with  the  revenge  that  will  attend  his  death. 
That  he  even  reproaches  them  for  their  ignorance  of 
the  art  of  tormenting;  points  out  methods  of  more  ex 
quisite  torture,  and  more  sensible  parts  of  the  body  to 
be  afflicted. 

The  scalps,  those  dreadful  proofs  of  the  barbarity 
of  these  Indians,  are  valued,  and  hung  up  in  their 
houses  as  the  trophies  of  their  bravery  ;  and  they 
have  certain  days  when  the  young  men  gain  a  new 
name  or  title  of  honour,  according  to  the  qualities  of 
the  persons  to  whom  these  scalps  belonged.  This 
name  they  think  a  sufficient  reward  for  the  dangers 
and  fatigues  of  many  campaigns,  as  it  renders  them 


INDIAN    VfAR§.  Ill 

respected  by  their  countrymen,  and  terrible  to  their 
enemies. 

In  the  late  American  revolution,  Britain  had  the 
inhumanity  to  reward  these  sons  of  barbarity  for  de 
predations  committed  upon  those  who  were  struggling 
in  the  cause  of  liberty.  It  was  through  their  insti 
gation  that  the  hatchets  of  the  Indians  were  made 
drunk  with  American  blood  !  The  widow's  wail,  the 
virgin's  shriek,  and  infant's  trembling  cry,  was  mu 
sic  in  their  ears.  In  cold  blood  they  sunk  their  cruel 
tomahawks  into  the  defeceless  head  of  a  Miss 
M'Kray,  a  beautiful  girl,  who  was  that  very  day  to 
have  been  married.  The  particulars  of  the  inhuman 
transaction  follow  :  Previous  to  the  late  war  between 
America  and  Great  Britain,  a  British  officer  by  the 
name  of  Jones,  an  accomplished  young  man,  resided 
near  Fort  Edward.  His  visits  thither  became  more 
frequent,  when  he  found  himself  irresistably  drawn 
by  charms  of  native  worth  and  beauty.  Miss  M' 
Kray,  whose  memory  is  dear  to  humanity  and  true 
affection,  was  the  object  of  his  peregrinations.  Mr. 
Jones  had  not  taken  the  precaution  necessary  in  ha 
zardous  love,  but  had  manifested  to  the  lady  by  his 
constant  attention,  undissembled  and  ingenuous  de 
meanor,  that  ardent  affection  which  a  susceptible 
heart  compelled  her  implicitly  to  return.  In  this  mu 
tual  interchange  of  passions,  they  suffered  themselves 
to  be  transported  on  the  ocean  of  imagination,  till  the 
unwelcome  necessity  of  a  separation  cut  off  every 
springing  hope.  The  war  between  Great  Britain  and 
America  commenced.  A  removal  from  this  happy 
spot  was  in  consequence  suggested  to  Mr.  Jones,  as 
indispensible.  Nothing  could  alleviate  their  mutual 
horror,  but  duty  ;  nothing  could  allay  their  recipro 
cal  grief,  so  as  to  render  a  separate  corporeal  exist 
ence  tolerable,  but  solemn  vows,  with  ideas  of  a 
future  meeting.  Mr.  Jones  repaired  to  Canada  where 
all  intercoure  with  the  Provincials  was  prohibited. 
Despair  which  presented  itself  in  aggravated  colours 
when  General  Burgoyne's  expedition  through  the 


112 


INDIAN    WAKS. 


States  was  fixed,  succeeded  to  his  former  hopes.  The 
British  army  being  encamped  about  three  miles  from 
the  fort,  a  descent  was  daily  projected.  Here  Mr. 
Jones  could  not  but  recognise  the  spot  on  which 
rested  all  his  joys.  He  figured  to  his  mind  the  dread 
which  his  hostile  approach  must  raise  in  the  breast 
of  her,  whom  of  all  others,  he  thought  it  his  highest 
interest  to  protect.  In  spite  of  arrest  and  commands 
to  the  contrary,  he  found  means  secretly  to  convey  a 
letter,  entreating  her  not  to  leave  the  town  with  the 
family  ;  assuring  her  that  as  soon  as  the  fort  should 
surrender,  he  would  convey  her  to  an  asylum  where 
they  might  safely  consummate  the  nuptial  ceremo 
ny.  Far  from  discrediting  the  sincerity  of  him 
who  could  not  deceive  her,  she  heroically  refused  to 
follow  the  flying  villagers.  The  remonstrances  of  a 
father,  or  the  tearful  entreaties  of  a  mother  and  nu 
merous  friends,  could  not  avail.  It  was  enough  that 
her  lover  was  her  friend.  She  considered  herself 
protected  by  the  love  and  voluntary  assurances  of  her 
youthful  hero.  With  the  society  of  a  servant  maid 
she  impatiently  waited  the  desired  conveyance.  Mr. 
Jones,  finding  the  difficulty  into  which  he  was 
brought,  at  length,  for  want  of  better  convoy,  hired 
a  party  of  twelve  Indians  to  carry  a  letter  to  Miss 
M'Kray,  with  his  own  horse,  for  the  purpose  of  car 
rying  her  to  the  place  appointed.  They  set  off,  fired 
with  the  anticipation  of  their  promised  premium, 
which  was  to  consist  of  a  quantity  of  spirits,  on  con 
dition  that  they  brought  her  off  in  safety,  which  to 
an  Indian  was  the  most  cogent  stimulous  the  young 
lover  could  have  named.  Having  arrived  in  view 
of  her  window,  they  sagaciously  held  up  the  letter, 
to  prevent  the  fears  and  apprehensions  which  a  sav 
age  knows  he  must  excite  in  the  sight  of  tenderness 
and  sensibility.  Her  faith  and  expectations  en 
abled  her  to  divine  the  business  of  these  ferocious 
missionaries, while  her  frightened  maid  uttered  nought 
but  shrieks  and  cries.  They  arrived,  and  by  their 
signs,  convinced  her  from  whom  they  had  their  in- 


INDIAN    WARS.  113 

structions.  If  a  doubt  could  remain,  it  was  removed 
by  the  letter  ;  it  was  from  her  lover.  A  lock  of  his 
hair,  which  it  contained,  presented  his  manly  figure 
to  her  gloomy  fancy. 

Here  reader,  guess  what  must  have  been  her  ec- 
stacy.  She  indeed  resolved  to  brave  even  the  most 
horrid  aspect  which  might  appear  between  her  and 
him,  whom  she  considered  already  hers,  without  a 
sigh.  She  did  not  for  a  moment  hesitate  to  follow 
the  wishes  of  her  lover  ;  and  took  her.  journey  with 
these  bloody  messengers,  expecting  very  soon  to  be 
shielded  in  the  arms  of  legitimate  affection.  A  short 
distance  only  then  seemed  to  separate  two  of  the 
happiest  of  mortals.  Alas  !  how  soon  are  the  most 
brilliant  pictures  of  felicity  defaced  by  the  burning 
hand  of  affliction  and  wo  !  How  swiftly  are  the 
halcyon  dreams  which  lull  the  supine  indolence  of 
thought,  succeeded  by  the  real  pangs  which  are  in 
flicted  by  a  punishing  Providence,  or  a  persecuting 
foe! 

Having  risen  the  hill,  at  about  equal  distance  from 
the  camp  and  her  former  home,  a  second  party  of  In 
dians,  having  heard  of  the  captivating  offer  made  by 
Mr.  Jones,  determined  to  avail  themselves  of  the  op 
portunity.  The  reward  was  the  great  object.  A 
clashing  of  real  and  assumed  rights  was  soon  follow 
ed  by  a  furious  and  bloody  engagement,  in  which  se 
veral  were  killed  on  each  side.  The  commander  of 
the  first  party,  perceiving  that  nought  but  the  lady's 
death  could  appease  the  fury  of  either,  with  a  toma 
hawk  deliberately  knocked  her  from  her  horse,  man 
gled  her  scalp  from  her  beautiful  temples,  which  he 
exultingly  bore  as  a  trophy  of  zeal  to  the  expectant 
and  anxious  lover  !  !  Here,  O  disappointment,  was 
thy  sting  !  It  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  Mr. 
Jones  could  be  kept  from  total  delirium.  His  horror 
and  indignation  could  not  be  appeased  ;  his  remorse 
for  having  risked  his  most  valuable  treasure  in  the 
hands  of  savages,  drove  him  almost  to  madness. 
When  the  particulars  of  this  melancholy  event  reach- 


1  11  INDIAN    WA11S. 

ed  Gen.   Burgoyne,  he  ordered  the  survivers  of  both 
these  parties  to  immediate  execution. 

Many  persons  suppose  that  the  idea  that  the  Am 
erican  Indians  are  descended  from  the  ancient  Jews,  is 
a  novel  one.  This  is  not  the  fact.  Many  writers 
have  suggested  this  opinion.  Among  others,  James 
Adair,  Esq.  who  had  resided  among  the  North  Am 
erican  Indians  forty  years,  and  paid  particular  at 
tention  to  their  language,  laws,  customs,  manners, 
dress,  ceremonies,  &c.  and  whose  account  of  them 
was  published  in  London  in  1775,  seems  to  have  been 
fully  convinced  of  the  fact  himself ;  and  if  his  argu 
ments  do  not  convince  others,  they  will  at  least  stag 
ger  their  incredulity.  The  following  extract  from  the 
contents  of  his  work  will  show  the  course  he  takes  to 
establish  his  opinion. 

^'Observations  and  Auguments  in  proof  of  the  Ameri 
can  Indians  being  decended  from  the  Jews. 

1 .  Their  division  into  tribes. 

2.  Their  worship  of  Jehovah. 

3.  Their  notion  of  a  theocracy. 

4.  Their  belief  in  the  ministration  of  angels. 

5.  Their  language  and  dialects. 

6.  Their  manner  of  counting  time. 

7.  Their  prophets  and  high  priests. 

8.  Their  festivals,  fasts,  and  religious  rites. 

9.  Their  daily  sacrifice. 

10.  Their  ablutions  and  anointings. 

11.  Their  laws  of  uncleanness. 

12.  Their  Abstinence  from  unclean  things. 

13.  Their  marriages,  divorces,  and  punishment 
of  adultery. 

14.  Their  several  punishments. 

15.  Their  cities  of  refuge. 

16.  Their  purifications  and  ceremonies  prepar 
atory  to  war. 

17.  Their  ornaments. 

18.  Their  manner  of  curing  the  sick. 

19.  Their  burial  of  the  dead. 

20.  Their  mourning  for  the  dead. 


INDIAN    WARS.  115 

21.  Their  raising  seed  to  a  departed  brother. 

22.  Their  choice  of  name  adapted  to  their  cir 
cumstances  and  the  times. 

23.  Their  own  traditions,  the  accounts  of  our 
English  writers,  and  the  testimonies  which  the  Span 
ish  and  other  authors  have  given  concerning  the  prim 
itive  inhabitants  of  Peru  and  Mexico.'3 

Under  each  of  these  heads  the  author  gives  us  such 
facts  as  a  forty  years  residence  among  them,  at  a  time 
when  their  manners,  customs,  &,c.  had  not  been  great 
ly  corrupted  or  changed  by  intercourse  with  Euro 
peans,  had  enabled  him  to  collect ;  and  he  assures  us 
they  are  "neither  disfigured  by  fable  nor  prejudice." 
The  rest  of  his  work  is  taken  up  with  accounts  of  the 
different  nations  among  whom  he  had. been,  with  oc 
casional  reflections  on  their  laws,  &c. 

The  following  list  of  names  of  the  various  Indian 
nations  in  North  America,  in  1794,  with  the  number 
of  their  fighting  men,  was  obtained  by  a  gentleman, 
Mr.  Benjamin  Hawkins,  employed  in  a  treaty  then 
made  with  them. 

The  Choctaws  or  Flaf  Heads,4500;  Natches,  150  ; 
Chicksasaws,  750 ;  Cherokees,  2500  ;  Catabas,  150  ; 
Piantas,  a  wandering  tribe,  800  ;  Kisquororas,  600  ; 
Hankashaws,  250;  Oughtenons,  400;  Kikapous,  505  ; 
Delawares,  300  ;  Shawanege,  300  ;  Miamies,  800  ; 
Upper  Creeks,  Middle  Creeks  and  Lower  Creeks, 
4000;  Cowitas,  7000;  Alabamas,  600;  Akinsaws,  200; 
Ansaus,  1000  ;  Padomas,  600  ;  white  and  freckeled 
Pianis,  4000;  Causes,  1600;  Osages,  600 ;  Grand 
Saux,  1000;  Missouri,  3000;  Saux  of  the  wood  1800  ; 
Biances,  or  white  Indians  with  beard,  1500  ;  Asin- 
bols,  1500  ;  Christian  Cauzes,  3000  ;  Ouiscousas, 
500;  Mascotins,  500;  Lakes,  400;  Muherouakes, 
230  ;  Folle  Avoines  or  Wildcats,  350  ;  Puans,  700  ; 
Powatamig,  550  ;  Missagues,  wandering  tribe  2000  ; 
Otabas,  900  ;  Chipewas,  5000  ;  Wiandots,  300  ;  Six 
Nations,  1500;  Round  Heads,3500;  Algoquins,  2000  ; 
Nepisians,  400;  Chalsas,130;  Amitestes,  550;  Muck- 
niacks,  700  ;  Abinaguis,  350  ;  Consway  Hurins,  200. 
Total,  58,780. 


CHAP.  VII 


WASHINGTON'S    EXPEDITION,    AND    DEFEAT    OF 
GEN.    BRADDOCK    BY    THE     INDIANS. 

In  1753  the  French  and  Indians  began  to  make  in 
roads  on  our  western  frontiers  along  the  Ohio.  Gov 
ernor  Dinwiddie,  of  Virginia,  was  very  desirous  to  get 
a  letter  of  remonstrance  to  their  commander  in  chief. 
He  had  applied  to  several  young  gentlemen  of  his  ac 
quaintance,  but  they  were  all  so  deficient  in  courage 
that  they  could  not  be  prevailed  on,  for  love  or  mo 
ney,  to  venture  out  among  the  savages.  Our  beloved 
WASHINGTON  happening  to  hear  of  it, instantly  wait 
ed  on  his  excellency,  and  offered  his  services,  but  not 
without  being  terribly  afraid  lest  his  want  of  a  beard 
should  go  against  him.  However,  the  governor  was 
so  charmed  with  his  modesty  and  manly  air,  that  he 
never  asked  him  a  sylable  about  his  age,  but  after 
thanking  him  for  his  offer,  calling  him  'a  noble  youth,' 
and  insisting  on  his  taking  a  glass  of  wine  with  him, 
slipped  a  commission  into  his  hand.  The  next  day 
he  set  out  on  his  expedition,  which  was,  from  start  to 
pole,  as  disagreeable  and  dangerous  as  any  thing  Her 
cules  himself  could  have  wished.  Soaking  rains,  chil 
ling  blasts,  roaring  floods,  pathless  woods,  and  moun 
tains  clad  in  snows,  opposed  his  course,  but  opposed 
in  vain.  The  glorious  ambition  to  serve  his  country 
imparted  an  animation  to  his  nerves,  which  rendered 
him  superior  to  all  dificulties. 

Returning  homeward,  he  was  way-laid  and  shot  at 
by  a  French  Indian,  and  though  the  copper-coloured 
ruffian  was  not  15  steps  distant  when  he  fired  at  him, 
yet  not  even  so  much  as  the  smell  of  lead  passed  on 
the  clothes  of  our  young  hero.  On  his  return  to  Vir 
ginia,  it  was  found  that  he  had  executed  his  negocia- 
tions,  both  with  the  French  and  Indians,  with  such 


INDIAN  WARS.  lit 

fidelity  and  judgment,  that  he  recieved  the  heartiest 
thanks  of  the  governor  and  council  for  the  very  im 
portant  services  he  had  done  his  country. 

He  was  now  (in  the  20th  year  of  his  age)  appoint 
ed  major  and  adjutant  general  of  the  Virginia  forces* 
Soon  after  this  the  Indians  continuing  their  encroach 
ments,  orders  were  given  by  the  English  goverment 
for  the  colonies  to  arm  and  unite  in  one  confederacy. 
Virginia  took  the  lead,  and  raised  a  regiment  of  four 
hundred  men,  at  the  head  of  which  she  placed  her 
darling  WASHINGTON. 

With  this  handful  of  brave  fellows, Col.  WASHING 
TON,  not  yet  22  years  of  age,  boldly  pushed  out  into 
the  Indian  country,  and  there  for  considerable  time, 
Hannibal  like,  maintained  the  war  against  three  times 
that  number  of  French  and  Indians.  At  the  Red- 
Stones  he  came  up  with  a  strong  party  of  the  enemy 
Whom  he  engaged  and  effectually  defeated^  after 
having  killed  and  taken  31  men.  From  his  prisoners 
he  obtained  undoubted  intelligence,  that  the  French 
forces  on  the  Ohio  consisted  of  upwards  of  a  thousand 
regulars  and  many  hundreds  of  Indians*  But,  not 
withstanding  this  disheartening  advice,  he  still  pressed 
on  undauntedly  against  the  enemy,  and  at  a  place 
called  the  Little  Meadows,  built  a  fort,  which  he  call^ 
ed  Fort  Necessity*  Here  he  waited,  hourly  and  anx 
iously  looking  for  succours  from  New- York  and  Penn^ 
sylvania  ;  but  he  looked  in  vain.  Nobody  came  to 
his  assistance.  Not  long  after  this  his  small  force, 
now  reduced  to  three  hundred  men,  were  attacked  by 
an  army  1100  French  and  Indians.  Never  did  the 
true  Virginian  valour  shine  more  gloriously  than  on 
this  trying  occasion. 

To  see  three  hundred  young  fellows,  commanded 
by  a  smooth  faced  boy,  all  unaccustomed  to  the  ter 
rors  of  war,  far  from  home,  and  from  all  hopes  of  help, 
shut  up  in  a  dreary  wilderness,  and  surrounded  by 
four  times  their  number  of  savage  foes;  and  yet,  with 
out  sign  of  fear,  without  thought  of  surrender,  pre 
paring  for  mortal  combat.  Oh  !  it  was  a  noble  sight. 
16 


118  INDIAN  WARS. 

Scarcely  since  the  days  of  Leonidas  and  his  three 
hundred  deathless  Spartans,  had  the  sun  beheld  its 
equal.  With  hideous  whoops  and  yells  the  enemy 
came  on  like  a  host  of  tigers.  The  woods  and  rocks 
and  tall  tree  tops  (as  the  Indians  climbing  to  the  tops 
of  trees,  poured  down  their  bullets  into  the  fort) 
were  in  one  continued  blaze  and  crash  of  fire-arms. 
Nor  were  our  young  warriors  idle,  but  animated  by 
their  gallant  chief,  plied  their  rifles  with  such  spirit 
that  their  little  fort  resembled  a  volcano  in  full  blast, 
roaring  and  discharging  thick  sheets  of  liquid  fire  and 
of  leaden  deaths  among  their  foes.  For  three  glorious 
hours,  salamander  like,  enveloped  in  smoke  and  flame, 
they  sustained  the  attack  of  the  enemy's  whole  force 
and  laid  two  hundred  of  them  dead  on  the  spot !  Dis 
couraged  by  such  desperate  resistance,  the  French 
general, the  Count  de  Villiers,  sent  in  a  flag  to  WASH 
INGTON,  extolling  his  gallantry  to  the  skies,  and  offer 
ing  him  the  most  honourable  terms.  It  was  stipulated 
that  Col.  WASHINGTON  and  his  little  band  of  heroes, 
should  march  away  with  all  the  honours  of  war,  and 
carry  with  them  their  military  stores  and  baggage. 

In  the  spring  of  1775  WASHINGTON,  while  busied 
in  the  highest  military  operations,  was  summoned  to 
attend  Gen.  Braddoek,  who  in  the  month  of  February 
had  arrived  at  Alexandria  with  2000  Brittish  troops. 
The  assembly  of  Virginia  appointed  800  provincials 
to  join  him.  The  object  of  this  army  was  to  march 
through  the  country,  by  the  way  of  Will's  Creek,  to 
fort  Duquesne  (now  Pittsburgh,  or  fort  Pitt.)  As 
no  person  was  so  well  acquainted  with  the  frontier 
country  as  Washington,  and  none  stood  so  high  in 
military  fame,  it  was  thought  he  would  be  infinitely 
serviceably  to  Gen.  Braddock.  At  the  request  of 
the  governor  and  council  he  cheefully  quitted  his  own 
command,  to  act  as  volunteer  aid-de-camp  to  that 
very  imprudent  and  unfortunate  general .  The 
army  near  3000  strong,  marched  from  Alexandria  and 
proceeded  unmolested  within  a  few  miles  of  fort  Pitt. 
On  the  morning  of  the  9th  of  July,  when  they  had 
arrived  within  seven  miles  of  fort  Duquense,  the  pro- 


INDIAN    WAR'S.  119 

vincial  scouts  discovered  a  large  party  of  French  and 
Indians  lying  in  ambush.  Washington  with  his 
usual  modesty, observed  to  Gen.  Braddock  what  sort  of 
an  enemy  he  had  now  to  deal  with.  An  enemy  who 
would  not,  like  the  Europeans,  come  forward  to  a 
fair  contest  in  the  field,  but  concealed  behind  rocks 
and  trees,  carry  on  a  deadly  warfare  with  their  rifles. 
He  concluded  with  begging  that  Gen.  Braddock 
would  grant  him  the  honour  to  let  him  place  himself 
at  the  head  of  the  Virginian  riflemen,  and  fight  them 
in  their  own  way.  And  it  was  generally  thought  that 
our  young  hero  and  his  800  hearts  of  hickory,  would 
very  easily  have  beaten  them  too,  for  they  were  not 
superior  to  the  force,  which,  with  only  300,  he  had 
handled  so  roughly,  a  twelve  month  before.  But 
Gen.  Braddock,  who  had  all  along  treated  the  Amer 
ican  officers  and  soldiers  with  infinite  contempt*  in 
stead  of  following  this  truly  salutary  advice,  swelled 
and  reddened  with  most  unmanly  rage.  "High  times 
by  G — d"  he  exclaimed,  strutting  to  and  fro,  with  his 
arms  a  kimbo,  "High  times!  when  a  young  buckskin 
can  teach  a  Brittish  General  how  to  fight!'5  Wash 
ington  withdrew,  biting  his  lips  with  grief  and  indig 
nation,  to  think  what  numbers  of  brave  fellows  would 
draw  short  breath  that  day,  through  the  pride  and 
obstinacy  of  one  epualetted  fool.  The  troops  were 
ordered  to  form  and  advance  in  columns  through  the 
woods!  In  a  little  time  the  ruin  which  Washington 
had  predicted  ensued.  This  poor  devoted  army, 
pushed  on  by  their  mad-cap  general,  fell  into  the 
fatal  snare  which  was  laid  for  them.  All  at  once 
a  thousand  rifles  began  the  work  of  death.  The 
ground  was  instantly  covered  with  the  dying  and  the 
dead.  The  Brittish  troops  thus  slaughtered  by  hun 
dreds,  and  by  an  enemy  whom  they  could  not  see, 
were  thrown  irrecoverably  into  panic  and  confusion, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  their  haughty  general,  with 
1£09  of  his  brave  but  unfortunate  countrymen,  bit 
the  ground.  Poor  Braddock  closed  the  tragedy 
with  great  decency.  He  was  mortally  wounded  in 
the  beginning  of  the  action,  and  Washington  had 


120  INDIAN  WARS. 

him  placed  in  a  cart  ready  for  retreat.  Close  on  the 
left  where  the  weight  of  the  French  and  Indian  fire 
principally  fell,  Washington  and  his  Virginia  riflemen 
dressed  in  blue,  sustained  the  shock.  At  every  dis 
charge  of  their  rifles,  the  wounded  general  cried 
out,  "O  my  brave  Virginian  blues!  Would  to  God  I 
could  live  to  reward  you  for  such  galantry."  But  ho 
died,  Washington  buried  him  in  the  roadt  and  to 
save  him  from  discovery  and  the  scalping  knife,  order 
ed  the  wagons  on  their  retreat  to  drive  over  his  grave! 
O  God!  what  is  man?  Even  a  thing  of  nought!  ! 

Amidst  all  this  fearful  consternation  and  carnage, 
amidst  all  the  uproar  and  horrors  of  a  rout,  rendered 
still  more  dreadful  by  the  groans  of  the  dying,  the 
screams  of  the  wounded,  the  piercing  shrieks  of  the 
women,  and  the  yells  of  the  furious  assaulting  sava 
ges,  Washington,  calm  and  self-collected,  rallied  his 
faithful  riflemen,  led  them  on  to  the  charge  ;  killed 
numbers  of  the  enemy  who  were  rushing  on  with 
tomahawks,  checked  their  pursuit  and  brought  off  the 
shattered  remains  of  the  Brittish  army. 

With  respect  to  our  beloved  Washington,  we 
cannot  but  mention  here  two  extraordinary  speeches 
that  were  uttered  about  him  at  this  time,  and  which,  as 
things  have  turned  out,  look  a  good  deal  like  proph 
ecies.  A  famous  Indian  warrior  who  assisted  in  the 
defeat  of  Braddock,  was  often  heard  to  swear,  that 
"Washington  was  not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet, 
for,"  continued  he  "  I  had  17  fair  fires  at  him  with 
my  rifle,  and  after  all  I  could  not  bring  him  to  the 
ground."  And,  indeed,  whoever  considers  that  a 
good  rifle  levelled  by  a  proper  marksman,  hardly 
ever  misses  its  aim,  will  readily  enough  conclude  with 
this  unlettered  savage,  that  some  invisible  hand  must 
have  turned  aside  his  bullets. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Davis,  in  a  sermon  occasioned  by 
Gen.  Braddock's  defeat,  has  these  remarkable  words; 
*'  I  beg  leave  to  point  the  attention  of  the  public  to 
that  heroic  youth  Col.  George  Washington,  whom 
I  cannot  but  hope  Providence  has  preserved  for  some 
great  service  to  his  country." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


ADVENTURES  OF  CAPT.  DANIEL  BOON,  COMPRIS 
ING  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  WARS  WITH  THE 
INDIANS  ON  THE  OHIO,  FROM  1769  $O  1782. 
WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF. 

ult  was  on  the  first  of  May,  1769,  that  I  resigned 
my  domestic  happiness,  and  left  my  family  and  peace 
able  habitation  on  the  Yadkin  river  in  North  Carolina 
to  wander  through  the  wilderness  of  America,  in  quest 
of  the  country  of  Kentucky,  in  company  with  John 
Finley,  John  Stuart,  Joseph  Holden,  James  Monay 
and  William  Cool. 

^  On  the  7th  June,  after  travelling  in  a  western 
direction,  we  found  ourselves  on  Red  river,  where 
John  Finley  had  formerly  been  trading  with  the  In 
dians,  and  from  the  top  of  an  eminence  saw  with 
pleasure  the  beautiful  level  of  Kentucky.  For  some 
time  we  had  experienced  the  most  uncomfortable 
weather.  We  now  encamped,  made  a  shelter  to 
defend  us  from  the  inclement  season,  and  began  to 
hunt  and  reconnoitre  the  country.  We  found  abun 
dance  of  wild  beasts  in  this  vast  forest.  The  buffa 
loes  were  more  numerous  than  cattle  on  our  settle 
ments,  browsing  on  the  leaves  of  the  cane,  or  crop- 
ing  the  herbage  on  these  extensive  plains.  We  saw 
hundreds  in  a  drove,  and  the  numbers  about  the  salt 
springs  were  amazing.  In  this  forest,  the  habitation 
of  beasts  of  every  American  kine,  we  hunted  with 
great  success  until  December. 

aOn  the  22d  December  John  Stuart  and  I  had  a 
pleasing  ramble  ;  but  fortune  changed  the  day  at  the 


\22  INDIAN   WARS. 

close  of  it.  We  passed  'through  a  great  forest,  in 
\vhich  stood  myriads  of  trees, some  gay  with  blossoms, 
others  rich  with  fruits.  Nature  was  here  a  series  of 
wonders  and  fund  of  delight.  Here  she  displayed 
her  ingenuity  and  industry  in  a  variety  of  flowers  and 
fruits,  beautifully  colored,  elegantly  shaped,  and 
charmingly  flavoured  ;  and  we  were  favoured  with 
numberless  animals  presenting  themselves  perpetually 
to  our  view.  In  the  decline  of  the  day,  near  Kentucky 
river,  as  we  ascended  the  brow  of  a  small  hill,  a 
number  of  Indians  rushed  out  of  a  cane  brake  and 
made  us  prisoners.  The  Indians  plundered  us  and  kept 
us  in  confinement  several  days;  during  this  time  we  dis 
covered  no  uneasiness  or  desire  to  escape, which  made 
them  less  suspicious  ;  but  in  the  dead  of  night,  as 
we  lay  by  a  large  fire  in  a  thick  cane  brake,  when 
sleep  had  locked  up  their  senses,  my  situation  not 
disposing  me  to  rest  I  gently  awoke  my  companion. 
We  siezed  this  favourable  opportunity  and  departed, 
directing  our  course  toward  our  old  camp,  but  found 
it  plundered  and  our  company  destroyed  or  dispersed. 
About  this  time  as  my  brother,  with  another  adven 
turer  who  came  to  explore  the  country  shortly  after 
us,  was  wandering  through  the  forest,  they  acciden 
tally  found  our  camp.  Notwithstanding  our  unfor 
tunate  circumstances,  and  our  dangerous  situation, 
surrounded  with  hostile  savages,  our  meeting  fortu 
nately  in  the  wilderness,  gave  us  the  most  sensible 
satisfaction. 

uSoon  after  this  my  companion  in  captivity,  John 
Stuart,  was  killed  by  the  savages,  and  the  man  who 
came  with  my  brother,  while  on  a  private  excursion, 
was  soon  after  attacked  and  killed  by  the  wolves. 
We  were  now  in  a  dangerous  and  helpless  situation, 
exposed  daily  to  perils  and  deaths,  among  savages  and 
wild  beasts,  not  a  white  man  in  the  country  but  our 
selves. 

"Although  many  hundred  miles  from  our  families, 
in  the  howling  wilderness,  we  did  not  continue  in  a 
state  of  indolence,  but  hunted  every  day,  and  pre- 


INDIAN    WARS.'  123 

pared  a  little  cottage  to  defend  us  from  the  winter. 
On  the  1st  of  May,  17TO  my  brother  returned  home, 
for  a  new  recruit  of  horses  and  amunition,  leaving  me 
alone,  without  bread,  salt  or  sugar,  or  even  ahorse  or 
a  dog,  I  passed  a  few  days  uncomfortably.  The 
idea  of  a  beloved  wife  and  family,  and  their  anxiety 
on  my  account,  would  have  disposed  me  to  melan 
choly  if  I  had  further  indulged  the  thought. 

"One  day  I  undertook  a  tour  through  the  country, 
when  the  diversity  and  beauties  of  nature  I  met  with 
in  this  charming  season  expelled  all  gloomy  thoughts. 
Just  at  the  close  of  the  day  the  gentle  gales  ceased  ; 
a  profound  calm  ensued  ;  not  a  breath  shook  the 
tremulous  leaf.  I  had  gained  the  summit  of  a  com 
manding  ridge,  and  looking  around  with  astonishing 
delight  beheld  the  ample  plains  and  beauteous  tracts 
below.  On  one  hand  I  surveyed  the  famous  Ohio, 
rolling  in  silent  dignity, and  making  the  western  boun 
dary  of  Kentucky,  with  inconceivable  grandeur.  At  a 
vast  distance  I  beheld  the  mountains  lift  their  venera 
ble  brows  and  penetrate  the  clouds.  All  things  were 
still.  I  kindled  a  fire  near  a  fountain  of  sweet  water 
and  feasted  on  the  loin  of  a  buck  which  I  had  killed 
a  few  hours  before.  The  shades  of  night  soon 
overspread  the  hemisphere,  and  the  earth  seemed  to 
gasp  after  the  hovering  moisture.  At  a  distance  I 
frequently  heard  the  hideous  yells  of  savages.  My 
excursions  had  fatigued  my  body  and  amused  my  mind. 
I  laid  me  down  to  sleep,  and  awoke  not  until  the  sun 
had  chased  away  the  night.  I  continued  this  tour, 
and  iiz  a  few  days  explored  a  considarable  part  of  the 
country,  each  day  equally  pleased  as  the  first.  After 
which  I  returned  to  my  old  camp,  which  had  not  been 
disturbed  in  my  absence,  I  did  not  confine  my  lodg 
ing  to  it,  but  often  reposed  in  thick  cane  brakes  to 
avoid  the  savages,  who  I  believe  frequently  visited 
my  camp  but  fortunately  for  me  in  my  absence.  .No 
populous  city,  with  all  its  varieties  of  commerce  and 
stately  structures,  could  afford  so  much  pleasure  to 
my  mind  as  the  beauties  of  nature  I  found  in  this 
country. 


121  INDIAN    WARS. 

' 'Until  the  27th  July  I  spent  my  time  in  an  uninter 
rupted  scene  of  sylvan  pleasures,  when  my  brother 
to  my  great  felicity,  met  me  according  to  appoint 
ment,  at  our  old  camp.  Soon  after  we  left  the  place 
and  proceeded  to  Cumberland  river,  reconnoitering 
that  part  of  the  country,  and  giving  names  to  the  dif 
ferent  rivers. 

"In  March,  1771,  I  returned  home  to  my  family, 
being  determined  to  bring  them  as  soon  as  possible  at 
the  risk  of  my  life  and  fortune,  to  reside  in  Kentucky, 
which  I  esteemed  a  second  paradise. 

<cOn  my  return  1  found  my  family  in  happy  circum 
stances.  I  sold  my  farm  on  the  Yadkin,  and  what 
goods  we  could  not  carry  with  us,  and  on  the  25th  of 
September,  1772,  we  took  leave  of  our  friends  and 
proceeded  on  our  road  to  Kentucky,  in  company 
with  five  more  families,  and  forty  men  that  joined  us 
in  PowPs  Valley,  which  is  150  miles  from  the  new 
settled  parts  of  Kentucky.  But  this  promising  be* 
ginning  was  soon  overcast  with  a  cloud  of  adversi 
ty- 

"  On  the  10th  of  October  the  rear  of  our  company 
was  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  killed  six 
and  wounded  one  man.  Of  these  my  oldest  son  was 
one  that  fell  in  the  action.  Though  we  repulsed  the 
enemy,  yet  this  unhappy  affair  scattered  our  cattle 
and  brought  us  in  extreme  difficulty.  We  returned 
forty  miles  to  the  settlement  on  Clench  river.  We 
had  passed  over  two  mountains,  Powell  and  Wai- 
den's,  and  were  approaching  Cumberland  mountain, 
when  this  adverse  fortune  overtook  us.  These  moun 
tains  are  in  the  wilderness,  in  passing  from  the  old 
settlement  in  Virginia  to  Kentucky  ;  are  ranged  in  a 
south-west  and  north-east  direction  ;  are  of  great 
length  and  breadth,  and  not  far  distant  from  each 
other.  Over  them  nature  had  formed  passes  less 
difficult  than  might  be  expected,  from  the  view  of 
such  huge  piles.  The  aspect  of  these  cliffs  are  so 
wild  and  horrid,  that  it  is  impossible  to  behold  them 
without  horror. 


INDIAN    WARS.  125 

•'  Until  the  6th  June,  1774,  I  remained  with  my 
family  on  the  Clench,  when  I  and  another  person 
were  solicited  by  Governor  Dunmore,  of  Virginia,  to 
conduct  a  number  of  surveyors  to  the  falls  of  Ohio. 
This  was  a  tour  of  800  miles,  and  took  us  sixty 
two  days. 

<c  On  my  return  Gov.  Dunmore  gave  me  the  com 
mand  of  three  garrisons  during  the  campaign  against 
the  Shawanese.  In  March,  1775,  at  the  solicitation 
of  a  number  of  gentlemen  of  North-Carolina,  I  at 
tended  their  treaty  at  Wataga,  with  the  Cherokee 
Indians,  to  purchase  the  lands  on  the  so'iith  side  of 
Kentucky  river.  After  this,  I  undertook  to  mark  out 
a  road  in  the  best  passage"  from  the  settlements 
through  the  wilderness  to  Kentucky. 

"  Having  collected  a  nun/oer  of  enterprising  men 
well  armed,  I  soon  began  this  work.  We  proceeded 
until  we  came  within  15  miles  of  where  Boonsbor- 
ough  now  stands,  where  the  Indians  attacked  us,  and 
killed  two  and  wounded  two  more  of  our  party.  This 
was  on  the  22d  March,  1775.  Two  days  after  we 
were  again  attacked  by  them,  when  we  had  two  more 
killed  and  three  wounded.  After  this  we  proceeded 
on  to  Kentucky  river  without  opposition. 

u  On  the  first  April  we  began  to  erect  the  fort  of 
Boonsborough,  at  a  salt  li(5k,  sixty  yards  from  the 
river  on  the  south  side.  On  the  4th  the  Indians 
killed  one  of  our  men-.  On  the  14th  June,  having 
Corripleted  the  fort,  I  returned  to  my  family  on  the 
Clench,  and  whom  I  sooit  after  removed  to  the  fort. 
My  wife  and  daughter  were  supposed  to  be  the 
first  white  women  that  ever  stood  upon  the  banks  of 
Kentucky  river. 

"  On  the  24th  December  the  Indians  killed  one 
of  our  men  and  wounded  another  ;  and  on  the  15th 
July  1776,  they  took  my  daughter  prisoner.  I  imme 
diately  pursued  them  with  eight  men,  and  on  the 
16th  overtook  and  engaged  them.  I  killed  two  of 
them  and  recovered  my  daughter. 
17 


126  I  M)  I  A!f    WARS. 

"  The  Indians  having  divided  themselves  into  sev 
eral  parties,  attacked  in  one  day  all  our  infant  settle 
ments  and  forts,  doing  a  great  deal  of  damage.  The 
husbandmen  were  ambinhed  and  unexpectedly  at 
tacked  while  toiling  in  the  field.  They  continued 
this  kind  of  warfare  until  the  15th  April,  1777, 
when  nearly  100  of  them  attacked  the  village  of 
Boonsborough,  and  killed  a  number  of  its  inhabitants. 
On  the  16th-  Colonel  Logan's  fort  was  attacked  by 
201)  Indians.  There  were  only  13  men  in  the  fort, 
of  whom  the  enemy  killed  two  and  wounded  one. 

<c  On  the  20th  August  Col.  Bowman  arrived  with 
100  men  from  Virginia,  with  which  additional  force 
we  had  almost  daily  skirmishes  with  the  Indians, 
who  began  now  to  learn  the  superiority  of  the  "  long 
knife,"  as  they  termed  the  Virginians  ;  being  out- 
generalled  in  almost  every  action.  Our  affairs  began 
now  to  wear  a  better  aspect,  the  Indians  no  longer 
daring  to  face  us  in  open  field,  but  sought  private 
opportunities  to  destroy  us. 

"  On  the  7th  February  1778,  while  on  a  hunting 
excursion  alone,  I  met  a  party  of  102  Indians  and 
two  Frenchmen,  marching  to  attack  Boonsborough. 
They  pursued  and  took  ine  prisoner,  and  conveyed 
me  to  Old  Chilicothe,  the  principal  Indian  town  on 
little  Miami,  where  we  arrived  on  the  18th  February, 
after  an  uncomfortable  journey.  On  the  18th  March, 
I  was  conducted  to  Detroit,  and  while  there  was 
treated  with  great  humanity  by  Governor  Hamilton, 
the  British  Commander  at  that  port,  and  intendant 
for  Indian  affairs. 

"  The  Indians  had  such  an  affection  for  me  that 
they  refused  1001.  sterling,  offered  them  by  the  Gov 
ernor,  if  they  would  consent  to  leave  me  with  him, 
that  he  might  be  able  to  liberate  me  on  my  parole. 
Several  English  gentlemen  then  at  Detroit,  sensible 
of  rny  adverse  fortune  and  touched  with  sympathy, 
generously  offered  to  supply  my  wants,  uhich  I  declin 
ed  with  many  thanks,  adding  that  I  never  expected  it 


INDIAN    TTARS. 

Would  be  in  my  power  to  recompense  such  unmerited 
generosity. 

"  On  the  10th  April  the  Indians  returned  with  me 
to  Old  Chilicothe  ;  where  we  arrived  on  the  25th. 
This  was  a  long  and  fatiguing  march,  although 
through  an  exceeding  fertile  country,  remarkable  for 
springs  and  streams  of  water.  At  Chilicothe  I  spent 
my  time  as  comfortable  as  I  could  expect  ;  was  adopt 
ed,  according  to  their  custom,  into  a  family  where 
I  became  a  son,  and  had  a  share  in  the  affection 
of  my  new  parents,  brothers,  sisters  and  friends.  I 
was  exceedingly  familiar  and  friendly  %ith  them, 
always  appearing  as  cheerful  and  contented  as  possi 
ble,  and  they  put  great  confidence  in  me.  I  often 
went  hunting  with  them,  and  frequently  gained 
their  applause  for  my  activity  at  our  shooting  match 
es.  I  was  careful  not  to  exceed  many  of  them  in 
shooting,  for  no  people  are  more  envious  than  they  in 
this  sport.  I  could  observe  in  their  countenances 
and  gestures  the  greatest  expressions  of  joy  when 
they  exceeded  me,  and  when  the  reverse  happened. 
of  envy.  The  Shavvanese  king  took  great  notice  of 
me  and  treated  me  with  profound  respect  and  entire 
friendship,  often  entrusting  me  to  hunt  at  my  liberty. 
I  frequently  returned  with  the  spoils  of  the  woods, 
and  as  often  presented  some  of  what  1  had  taken  to 
him,  expressive  of  duty  to  my  sovereign.  My  food 
and  lodging  was  in  common  with  them,  not  so  good 
indeed  as  1  could  desire,  but  necessity  made  every 
thing  acceptable. 

"•  I  now  began  to  meditate  an  escape,  and  carefully 
avoided  giving  suspicion.  I  continued  at  Chilicothe 
until  the  first  day  of  June,  when  I  was  taken  to  the 
salt  springs  on  Sciotha,  and  there  employed  ten  days 
in  the  manufacturing  of  salt.  During  this  time  I  hunt- 
id  with  my  Indian  masters,  and  found  the  land  for 
great  extent  about  this  river  to  exceed  the  soil  of 
Kentucky. 

"  On  my  return  to  Chilicothe,  150  of  the  choicest 
Indian  warriors  were  ready  to  march  against  Boons- 


INDIAN    WARS. 

borough.      They  were  painted  and  armed  in  a  fright 
ful  manner.     This   alarmed  me  and  I  determined  to . 
escape. 

"On  the  18th  June,  before  sun-rise,  I  went  off  se 
cretly,  and  reached  Boonsborough  on  the  20th,  a 
journey  of  160  miles,  during  which  I  had  only  one 
meal.  I  found  our  fortress  in  a  bad  state,  but  we 
immediately  repaired  our  flanks,  gates,  posterns,  and 
formed  double  bastions,  which  we  completed  in  ten 
days,  One  of  my  fellow  prisoners  escaped  after 
me,  and  brought  advice  that  on  account  of  my  flight, 
the  Indiaus  had  put  off  their  expedition  for  three 
weeks. 

"About  the  first  of  August  I  set  out  with  19  men 
to  suprize  Point  Creek-Town  on  Seiotha,  within  four 
miles  of  which  we  fell  in  with  40  Indians  going 
against  Boonsborough.  We  attacked  them,  and  they 
soon  gave  way  without  any  loss  on  our  part. 

The  enemy  had  one  killed  and  two  wounded.  We 
took  three  horses  and  all  their  baggage.  The  Indians 
having  evacuated  their  town,  and  gone  altogether 
against  Boonsborough,  we  returned,  passed  them  on 
the  6th,  and  on  the  7th  arrived  safe  at  Boonsbor 
ough. 

"On  the  9th  the  Indian  army,  consisting  of  444  men 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Duquesne,  and  eleven 
other  Frenchmen  and  their  own  chiefs,  arrived  and 
summoned  the  fort  to  surrender.  I  requested  two 
days  consideration,  which  was  granted.  During  this 
we  brought  in  through  the  posterns  all  the  horses 
and  other  cattle  we  could  collect. 

4*On  the  9th,  in  the  evening,  I  informed  their 
commander  that  we  were  determined  to  defend  the 
fort  while  a  man  was  living.  They  then  proposed 
a  treaty,  they  would  withdraw.  The  treaty  was 
held  within  sixty  yards  of  the  fort,  as  we  suspected 
the  savages.  The  articles  were  agreed  to  and  signed; 
when  the  Indians  told  us  it  was  their  custom  for 
two  Indians  to  shake  hands  with  every  white 


INDIAN    WARS. 

man  in  the  treaty,  as  an  evidence  of  friendship.  We 
agreed  to  this  also.  They  immediately  grappled  us 
to  take  us  prisoners,  but  we  cleared  ourselves  of 
them,  though  surrounded  by  hundreds,  and  gained 
the  fort  safe,  except  one  man  who  was  wounded  by  a 
heavy  fire  from  the  enemy. 

<cThe  savages  now  began  to  undermine  the  fort, 
beginning  at  the  water  mark  of  Kentucky  river, 
which  is  60  yards  from  the  fort  ;  this  we  discovered 
by  the  water  being  made  muddy  by  the  clay.  We 
countermined  them  by  cutting  a  trench  across  their 
subterraneous  passage.  The  enemy  discovering  this 
by  the  clay  we  threw  out  of  the  fort,  desisted.  On 
the  10th  Augu&t  they  raised  the  siege,  during  which 
we  had  two  men  killed  and  four  woi;rided.  We  lost 
a  number  of  cattle.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  37 
killed,  and  a  much  greater  number  wounded.  We 
picked  up  125  pounds  of  their  bullets,  besides  what 
stuck  in  the  logs  of  the  fort. 

aln  July,  1779,  during  my  absence.  Col  Bowman^ 
with  160  men,  went  against  the  Shawanese  of  Old 
Chilicothe.  He  arrived  undiscovered.  A  battle  en 
sued  which  lasted  until  ten  in  the  morning,  when 
Col.  Bowman  retreated  30  miles.  The  Indians  col 
lected  all  their  strength  and  pursued  him,  wheri 
another  engagement  ensued  for  two  hours,  not  to  Col. 
Bowman's  advantage.  Col.  Harrod  proposed  to 
mount  a  number  of  horses  and  brake  the  -enemy's 
line,  who  at  this  time  fought  with  remarkable  fury.e 
This  desperate  measure  had  a  happy  effect,  and  the 
savages  fled  on  all  sides.  In  ihese  two  engagements 
we  had  nine  men  killed  and  one  wounded.  Enemy's 
loss  uncertain  Only  two  scalps  w-ere  taken. 

"  June  23d,  1780,  500  Indians  and  Canadians  un* 
der  Col.  Bird  attacked  Riddle  and  Martin's  station^ 
on  the  forks  of  Licking  river  with  six  pieces  of  artiU 
lery.  They  took  all  the  inhabitants  captives,  and 
killed  one  man  and  two  women,  loading  the  others 
with  the  heavy  baggage,  and  such  as  failed  in  th$ 
journey  were  tomahawked. 


130  INDIAN    VVARg. 

"The  hostile  disposition  of  the  savages  causedGen- 
eral  Clark,  the  commandant  at  the  falls  of  Ohio,  to 
march  with  his  regiment  and  the  armed  force  of  the 
country,  against  Peccaway,  the  principal  town  of  the 
Shawanese,  on  a  branch  of  the  great  Miami,  which 
he  attacked  with  great  success,  took  seventy  scalps, 
and  reduced  the  town  to  ashes,  with  the  loss  of  17 
men. 

u  About  this  time  I  returned  to  Kentucky  with  my 
family  ;  for  during  my  captivity,  my  wife  thinking 
me  killed  by  the  Indians,  had  transported  my  fami 
ly  and  goods  on  horses  through  the  wilderness  a- 
midst  many  dangers,  to  her  father's  house  in  North- 
Carolina. 

uOn  the  6th  of  October,  17SO,  soon  after  my  set 
tling  again  at  Boonsborough,  I  went  with  my  brother 
to  the  Blue  Licks  and  on  our  return  he  was  shot  by 
ii  party  of  Indians,  who  followed  me  by  the  scent  of 
a  dog,  which  I  shot  and  escaped.  The  severity  of 
the  winter  caused  great  distress  in  Kentucky,  the 
enemy  during  the  summer  having  destroyed  most  of 
the  corn.  The  inhabitants  lived  chiefly  on  buffaloe's 
flesh. 

"In  the  spring  of  1782  the  Indians  harrassed  us. 
In  May  they  ravished,  killed  and  scalped  a  woman 
and  her  two  daughters  near  Ashton's  station,  and  took 
a  negro  prisoner.  Capt.  Ashtcn  pursued  them  with 
25  men,  and  in  an  engagement  which  lasted  two 
hours,  his  party  were  obliged  to  retreat,  having  eight 
killed  and  four  mortally  wounded.  Their  brave  com 
mander  fell  in  the  action. 

"August  18th  two  boys  were  carried  off  from 
Major  Hoy's  station.  Capt.  Holden  pursued  the  en 
emy  with  17  men,  who  were  also  defeated  with  the 
loss  of  seven  killed  and  two  wounded.  Our  a  Hairs 
Became  more  and  more  alarming.  The  savages  in 
fested  the  country  and  destroyed  the  whites  as  op 
portunity  presented.  In  a  field  near  Lexington  an 
Indian  shot  a  man,  and  running  to  scalp  him,  v.as 
himself  shot  from  the  fort,  and  fell  dead  upon  the 


INDIAN    WARS.  131 

ground.     All  the   Indian   nations    were  now  united 
against  us. 

O 

"  August  15th,  500  Indians  and  Canadians  came 
against  Briat's  station,  five  miles  from  Lexington. 
They  assaulted  the  fort  and  killed  all  the  cattle 
round  it ;  but  being  repulsed,  they  retired  the  third 
day,  having  about  80  killed  ;  their  wounded  uncer 
tain.  The  garrison  had  four  killed  and  nine 
wounded. 

<•'  August  18th,  Colonels  Todd  and  Trigg,  Major 
Harland  and  myself,  speedily  collected  176  men,  well 
armed,  and  pursued  the  savages.  They  had  march-. 
ed  beyond  the  Blue  Licks,  to  a  remarkable  bend  of 
the  main  fork  of  Licking  River,  about  43  miles  from 
Lexington,  where  we  overtook  them  on  the  19th. 
The  savages  observing  us,  gave  way,  and  we  ignorant 
of  their  numbers,  passed  the  river.  When  they  saw 
our  proceedings,  having  greatly  the  advantage  in  sit 
uation,  they  formed  their  line  of  battle  from  one  end 
of  the  Licking  to  the  other,  about  a  mile  from  the 
Blue  Licks.  The  engagement  was  close  and  warm 
for  about  fifteen  minutes,  when  we  being  overpow 
ered  by  numbers,  were  obliged  to  retreat,  with  the 
loss  of  67  men,  7  of  whom  were  taken  prisoners^ 
The  brave  and  much  lamented  Colonels  Todd  and 
Trigg,  Major  Harland,  and  my  second  son  were 
among  the  dead.  We  were  afterwards  informed 
that  the  Indians  on  numbering  their  dead,  finding 
that  they  had  four  more  killed  than  we.  four  of  our 
people  they  had  taken  were  given  up  to  their  young 
warriors,  to  be  put  to  death  after  their  barbarous 
manner. 

u  On  our  retreat  we  were  met  by  Col.  Logan,  who 
was  hastening  to  join  us  with  a  number  of  well  armed 
men.  This  powerful  assistance  we  wanted  on  the 
day  of  battle.  The  enemy  said  one  more  fire  from 
us  would  have  made  them  give  way. 

u  I  cannot  reflect  upon  this  dreadful  scene,  without 
great  sorrow.  A  zeal  for  the  defence  of  their  coun 
try  led  these  heroes  to  the  scene  of  action,  though 


132  INDIAN    WARS. 

with  a  few  men,  to  attack  a  powerful  afmy  of  expe 
rienced  warriors.  When  we  gave  way,  they  pursued 
us  with  the  utmost  eagerness,  and  in  every  quarter 
spread  destruction.  The  river  was  difficult  to  cross5 
and  many  were  killed  in  the  flight,  some  just  entering 
the  fiver,  some  in  the  water,  others  after  crossing  in 
ascending  the  cliffs.  Some  escaped  on  horseback,  a 
few  on  foot;  and  being  dispersed  every  where,  a 
few  hours  brought  the  melancholy  news  of  this  unfor 
tunate  battle  to  Lexington.  Many  widows  were  now 
made.  The  reader  may  guess  what  sorrow  filled  the 
hearts  of  the  inhabitants,  exceeding  any  thing  that  I 
am  able  to  describe.  Being  reinforced,  we  returned 
to  bury  the  dead,  and  found  their  bodies  strewed 
every  where,  cut  and  mangled  in  a  dreadful  manner. 
This  mournful  scene  exhibited  a  horror  almost  un 
paralleled  :  some  torn  and  eaten  by  wild  beasts  ; 
those  in  the  river  eaten  by  fishes  ;  all  in  such  a  pu 
trid  condition  that  no  one  could  be  distinguished 
from  another. 

11  When  Gen.  Clark,  at  the  falls  of  Ohio,  heard  of 
our  disaster  he  ordered  an  expedition  to  pursue  the 
savages.  We  overtook  them  within  two  iiiiles  of  their 
town,  and  we  should  have  obtained  a  great  victory 
had  not  some  of  them  met  us  when  about  200  poles 
from  their  canlp.  The  savages  fled  in  the  utmost 
disorder,  and  evacuated  all  their  towns.  We  burn 
ed  to  ashes  Old  Chilicothe,  Peccaway,  New  Chilico- 
the,  and  Wilts  Town  ;  entirely  destroyed  their  corn 
and  other  ffuits  ;  and  spread  desolation  through  their 
country.  We  took  seven  prisoners  and  fifteen  scalps, 
and  lost  only  four  men,  two  of  whom  were  acciden 
tally  killed  by  ourselves.  This  Campaign  damped 
the  enemy,  yet  they  made  secret  incursions. 

"  In  October  a  party  attacked  Crab  Orchard,  and 
one  of  them  being  a  good  way  before  the  other,  bold 
ly  entered  a  house  in  which  were  only  a  woman  and 
her  children,  and  a  negro  man.  The  savage  used  no 
Violence,  but  attempted  to  carry  off  the  negro  ;  who, 
happily  proved  too  strong  for  him,  and  threw  him  on 


INDIAN    WARS.  133 

the  ground,  and  in  the  struggle  the  woman  cut  off  his 
head  with  an  axe,  whilst  her  little  daughter  shut  the 
door.  The  savages  instantly  came  up  and  applied 
their  tomahawks  to  the  door,  when  the  mother  put 
ting  an  old  rusty  gun  barrel  through  the  crevices,  the 
savages  immediately  went  off. 

;-From  that  time  till  the  happy  return  of  peace 
between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  the  In 
dians  did  us  no  mischief.  Soon  after  this  the  Indians 
desired  peace, 

"Two  darling  sons  and  a  brother  I  have  lost  by 
savage  hands,  which  have  also  taken  from  me  40  val 
uable  horses  and  abundance  of  cattle.  Many  dark 
and  sleepless  nights  have  I  spent,  separated  from  the 
cheerful  society  of  men,  scorched  by  the  summer's 
sun,  and  pinched  by  the  winter's  cold,  an  instrument 
ordained  to  settle  in  the  wilderness. 

"DANIEL  BOON. 

"Fayette  County,  Kentucky." 

IS 


CHAP.  IX. 


EXPEDITION  OF    GEN.    HARMER    AND   HIS    DEFEAT 
BY   THE    INDIANS. 


ALTHOUGH  a  peace  was  at  length  happily  effected 
between  the  two  contending  parties,  Great  Britain 
and  America,  in  1785,  yet  the  savages  who  had  been 
persuaded  to  take  a  part  with  the  former,  were  un 
willing  to  bury  the  bloody  hatchet.  They  had  not 
sufficiently  bathed  that  destructive  weapon  in  the 
.  blood  of  Americans.  Without  any  pretext  whatever, 
they  continued  to  exercise  toward  them  the  most  wan 
ton  acts  of  barbarity.  It  appeared  from  respectable 
evidence  that  from  the  year  1783,  until  the  month  of 
October  1790,  the  time  the  United  States  commenced 
offensive  operations  against  the  said  Indians,  that  on 
the  Ohio,  and  the  frontiers  on  the  south  side  thereof, 
they  killed,  wounded  and  took  prisoners  1500  men, 
women  and  children,  besides  carrying  off  upwards  of 
2000  horses,  and  other  property  to  the  amount  of 
$50,000. 

The  particulars  of  many  of  the  instances  of  barbar 
ity  exercised  upon  the  prisoners,  of  different  ages  and 
sexes,  although  supported  by  indisputable  evidence, 
are  of  too  shocking  a  nature  to  be  presented  to  the 
public.  It  is  sufficient  here  to  observe  that  the  scalp 
ing  knife  and  tomahawk  were  the  mildest  instruments 
of  death.  That  in  some  cases  torture  by  fire,  and 
other  execrable  means  were  used. 

But  the  outrages  which  were  committed  upon  the 
frontier  inhabitants  were  not  the  only  injuries  that 
were  sustained.  Repeated  attacks  upon  detachments 
of  the  troops  of  the  United  States  were  at  different 
times  made.  The  following  from  its  peculiar  enor 
mity  deserves  recital.  In  April,  1790,  Major  Dough 
ty,  in  service  of  the  United  States,  was  ordered  to  the 
friendly  Chicasaws  on  public  business.  He  perform- 


INDIAN  WARS,  135 

cd  his  duty  in  a  boat,  having  with  him  a  party  of  fif 
teen  men.  While  ascending  the  Tennessee  river  he 
was  met  by  a  party  of  Indians,  in  four  canoes,  consist 
ing  principally  of  Shawnese  and  out-cast  Cherokees. 
They  approached  under  a  white  flag,  the  well  known 
emblem  of  peace.  They  came  on  board  the  Major's 
boat,  received  his  presents,  continued  with  him  nearly 
an  hour,  and  then  departed  in  the  most  friendly  man 
ner.  But  they  had  scarcely  cleared  his  oars,  be 
fore  they  poured  in  a  fire  upon  his  crew,  which  was 
returned  as  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit,  and 
a  most  unequal  combat  was  sustained  for  several 
hours,  when  they  abandoned  their  design,  but  not 
until  they  had  killed  and  wounded  eleven  out  of  fif 
teen  of  the  boat's  crew. 

All  overtures  of  peace  failing  and  the  depredations 
still  continuing,  an  attempt  at  coercion  became  indis 
pensable.  Accordingly,  on  the  30th  September,  1790. 
the  President,  by  and  with  the  consent  and  advice  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  despatched  Gen. 
Harmer,  with  320  federal  troops  and  1133  militia 
under  his  command,  to  attack  and  destroy  their  prin 
cipal  villages.  /_r/ 

The  troops,  after  seventeen  days  march  from  Mi 
ami,  reached  the  great  Miami  village,  without  any 
other  molestation  than  that  of  having  a  number  of 
their  pack-horses  stolen.  On  their  arrival  they  found 
the  village  deserted,  and  all  the  valuable  buildings  in 
flames,  set  on  fire  by  the  Indians.  After  a  short  tarry 
they  proceeded  to  the  neighbouring  villages,  with 
out  molestation,  and  destroyed  five  of  them  and  a 
large  quantity  of  corn  which  they  found  buried  in  dif 
ferent  places  ;  a'nd  very  large  quantities  of  vegetables 
of  every  kind. 

The  first  opposition  that  was  met  with,  a  party  of 
about  150  Kentucky  militia,  and  80  regular  troops, 
all  under  the  command  of  Col.  Harding,  of  Kentucky, 
were  detached  from  the  main  body  lying  in  the  great 
Miami  village,  to  pursue  the  trail  of  a  party  of  Indians 
which  had  the  day  before  been  discovered.  After  a 


136  INDIAN    WARS. 

pursuit  of  about  six  miles  they  came  up  with,  and 
were  attacked  on  surprise  by  a  body  of  Indians  who 
were  concealed  in  the  thickets  on  every  side  of  a  large 
plain  ;  and  on  the  first  onset  the  militia  without  ex 
changing  a  single  shot,  made  a  most  precipitate  re 
treat  and  left  the  regular  troops  to  stand  the  whole 
charge  of  the  Indians.  The  conflict  was  short  and 
bloody.  The  troops  were  soon  overpowered  by  num 
bers,  and  all  fell  except  two  or  three  officers,  and 
two  or  three  privates,  after  defending  themselves  at 
their  bayonet  points  with  the  greatest  possible  ob 
stinacy.  Ensign  Hartshorn  was  one  of  the  officers 
who  providentially  escaped,  and  his  escape  appeared 
to  depend  more  on  a  lucky  circumstance  of  faultcring 
over  a  log  in  his  retreat,  and  by  that  means  screen 
ing  himself  from  the  eye  of  his  pursuers,  than  from 
any  other  circumstance.  Capt.  Armstrong,  who  com 
manded  the  party,  likewise  made  his  escape,  by 
plunging  himself  into  a  pond  or  swamp  up  to  his  neck 
within  200  yards  of  the  field  of  action,  where  he  re 
mained  the  whole  night  a  spectator  to  the  horrid 
scene  of  the  war  dance,  performed  over  the  dead  and 
wounded  bodies  of  the  poor  soldiers  that  had  fallen 
the  preceding  day ;  where  their  shrieks,  mixed  with 
the  horrid  yells  of  the  savages,  icndered  his  situation 
shocking. 

After  this  some  few  skirmishes  succeeded,  but  noth 
ing  material,  until  the  second  capital  action, which  hap- 
pended  two  days  after  the  army  left  the  Miami  village. 
Ajt  ten  miles  distance  from  the  town,  the  general  or 
dered  a  halt,  and  detached  from  four  to  five  hundred 
militia,  and  about  sixty  regular  soldiers,  under  the 
command  of  Major  Wileys  and  Col.  Harding, 
who  were  ordered  to  march  back  to  the  town.  On 
their  first  entrance  there  appeared  a  small  body  of 
Indians,  who  immediately  fled  at  the  first  onset,  and 
by  that  means  decoyed  the  whole  body  of  the  militia 
by  making  their  flight  in  different  directions,  and  en 
couraging  the  militia  to  pursue.  By  this  stratagem 
the  few  regular  troops  were  left  alone,  and  the  In- 


INDIAN    WARS.  137 

dians  had  effected  their  design,  for  the  moment  they 
found  the  small  handful  of  regular  troops  detatched 
from  the  main  body  of  the  militia,  they  commenced 
the  attack  with  their  whole  force,  excepting  the  fly 
ing  parties  that  had  divided  the  militia  ;  and  although 
they  soon  found  some  part  of  the  militia  returning 
on  their  backs,  pursued  their  object  of  routing  and 
destroying  the  troops,  as  the  only  sure  plan  of  success  ; 
which,  after  a  most  bloody  conflict  on  each  side  they 
effected. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  intrepidity  of  the  savages 
on  this  occasion.  The  militia  they  appeared  to  des 
pise  and  with  all  the  undauntedness  conceivable,  threw 
down  their  guns  and  rushed  upon  the  bayonets  of  the 
regular  soldiers.  A  number  of  them  fell,  but  being  so 
far  superior  in  numbers,  the  regulars  were  soon  over 
powered,  for  while  the  poor  soldier  had  his  bayonet 
in  one  Indian,  two  more  would  sink  their  tomahawks 
in  his  head.  The  defeat  of  the  troops  was  complete. 
The  dead  and  wounded  were  left  on  the  field  of  action 
in  possession  of  the  savages. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  official  return  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  in  the  expedition. 

Killed  of  the  federal  troops,  1  Major,  1  Lieutenant, 
73  rank  and  file  ;  total,  75.  Wounded  3  rank  and 
file. 

Killed  of  the  militia,  1  Major,  3  Captains,  2  Lieu 
tenants,  4  Ensigns,  93  rank  and  file  ;  total,  108. 
Wounded,  2  Lieutenants,  1  Ensign,  25  rank  and  file; 
total,  28. 

The  regular  troops  all  to  nine,  including  two  com 
missioned  officers  were  killed.  Among  the  slain  was 
Major  Wileys  and  a  number  of  brave  and  valuable 
soldiers.  The  Indians,  it  appeared,  from  some  cause 
did  not  think  prudent  to  pursue  their  successes  from 
the  field  of  action,  as  most  of  the  troops  that  were 
not  killed  or  badly  wounded  made  their  escape,  which 
they  could  not  have  effected  had  the  enemy  pursued 
with  their  usual  fury. 


CHAP.  X. 


DEFEAT  OF  GEN.  ST.  CLAIR  BY  THE   INDIANS, 


GEN.  ST.  CLAIR  TO  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 


Fort  Washington,  Nov.  9,  1791. 
"Sir, 

"Yesterday  afternoon  the1  remains  of  the  army 
under  my  command  got  back  to  this  place,  and  I  have 
now  the  painful  task  to  give  an  account  of  a  warm,  and 
as  unfortunate  an  action  as  almost  any  that  has  be  en 
fought,  in. which  every  corps  was  engaged  and  worst 
ed,  except  the  first  regiment,  that  had  been  detached 
upon  a  service  that  I  had  the  honour  to  inform  you  of 
in  my  last  despatch,  and  had  not  joined  me. 

"On  the  3d  inst.  the  army  had  reached  a  creek 
about  twelve  yards  wide  running  to  the  southward  of 
west,  which  I  believe  to  have  been  the  river  St.  Mary 
that  empties  into  the  Miami  of  the  lake,  arived  at 
the  village  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon^  having 
marched  near  nine  miles,  and  were  immediately  en 
camped  upon  a  very  commanding  piece  of  ground  in 
two  lines,  having  the  above  mentioned  creek  in  front. 
The  right  wing  composed  of  Butler,  Clark  and  Pat- 
erson's  battalions,  commanded  by  Major  General 
Butler,  formed  the  first  line  ;  and  the  left  wing,  con 
sisting  of  Bedinger  and  Gaither's  battalions,  and  the 
second  regiment  commanded  by  Col.  Drake,  formed 
the  second  line,  with  an  interval  between  them  of 
about  seventy  yards  ;  which  was  all  the  ground  would 
allow. 


INDIAN    WARS.  139 

The  right  flank  was  pretty  well  secured  by  the 
creek,  a  steep  bank,  and  Faulkener's  corps.  Some  of 
the  cavalry  and  their  piquets  covered  the  left  flank. 
The  militia  were  sent  over  the  creek  and  advanced 
about  one  quater  of  a  rnile,  and  encamped  in  the 
same  order.  There  were  a  few  Indians  who  appeared 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek,  but  fled  with  the  ut 
most  precipitation  on  the  advance  of  the  militia.  At 
this  place  which  I  judged  to  be  about  15  miles  from 
the  Miami  village,  I  had  determined  to  throw  up  a 
slight  work,  the  plan  of  which  was  concerted  that 
evening  with  Major  Ferguson,  wherein  to  have  de 
posited  the  men's  knapsacks,  and  every  thing  else 
that  was  not  of  absolute  necessity,  and  to  have 
moved  on  to  attack  the  enemy  as  soon  as  the  first 
regiment  was  come  up,  but  they  did  no»t  permit  me 
to  execute  either  ;  for  on  the  4th,  about  half  an  hour 
before  sun-rise,  and  when  the  men  had  been  just 
dismissed  from  the  parade,  (for  it  was  a  con 
stant  practice  to  have  them  all  under  arms  a  sonsid- 
arable  time  before  day-light,)  an  attack  was  made 
upon  the  militia,  who  gave  way  in  a  very  little  time, 
and  rushed  into  camp  through  Major  Butler's  batal- 
ion,  which,  together  with  part  of  Clark's,  they  thew 
into  considerable  disorder,  and  which  notwithstand 
ing  the  exertions  of  both  these  officers,  was  never  al 
together  remedied.  The  Indians  followed  close  at  their 
heels;  the  fire  however  of  the  front  line  checked  them; 
but  almost  instantaneously  a  very  heavy  attack  began 
upon  that  line,  and  in  a  few  minutes  it  was  extended 
to  the  second  likewise.  The  great  weight  of  it  was 
directed  against  the  centre  of  each,  where  the  artil 
lery  was  placed,  and  from  which  the  men  were  re 
peatedly  driven  with  great  slaughter.  Finding  no 
great  effect  from  the  fire,  and  a  confusion  beginning  to 
spread  from  the  great  number  of  men  who  were  fall 
en  in  all  quaters,  it  became  necessary  to  try  what 
could  be  done  with  the  bayonet. 

"Lt.  Col.  Drake  was  accordingly  ordered  to  make 
a  charge  with  a  part  of  the  second  line,  and  to  turn 


140  INDIAN     WARS. 

the  left  flank  of  the  enemy.  This  was  executed  with 
great  spirit,  and  at  first  promised  much  success.  The 
Indians  instantly  gave  way,  and  were  driven  back 
three  or  four  hundred  yards  ;  but  for  want  of  a  suffi 
cient  number  of  riflemen,  to  pursue  this  advantage, 
they  soon  returned,  and  the  troops  were  obliged  to 
give  back  in  their  turn.  At  this  moment  they  had 
entered  our  camp  by  the  left  flank,  having  pursued 
back  the  troops  that  were  posted  there. 

"  Another  charge  was  made  here  by  the  second 
regiment,  Butler  and  Clark's  battalions,  with  equal 
effect,  and  it  was  repeated  several  times,  and  always 
with  success  ;  but  in  all  of  them  many  men  were  lost 
and  particularly  the  officers,  which,  with  some  raw 
troops,  was  a  loss  altogether  irremediable.  In  that 
I  just  spoke  of  made  by  the  second  regiment,  and 
Butler's  battalion,  Major  Butler  was  dangerously 
wounded,  and  every  officer  of  the  second  regiment  fell 
except  three,  one  of  which,  Capt.  Greaton,  was  shot 
through  the  body, 

"Our  artillery  being  now  silenced, and  all  the  officers 
killed  except  Capt*  Ford,  who  was  badly  wounded, 
more  than  half  of  the  army  fallen,  being  cutoff  from 
the  road,  it  became  necessary  to  attempt  the  regain 
ing  it  and  to  make  a  retreat  if  possible.  To  this 
purpose  the  remains  of  the  army  was  formed  as  well 
as  circumstances  would  admit,  towards  the  right  of  the 
encampment ;  from  which,  by  the  way  of  the  second 
line,  another  charge  was  made  upon  the  enemy,  as  if 
with  the  design  to  turn  their  right  flank,  but  it  was 
in  fact  to  gain  the  road.  This  was  effected  ;  and  as 
soon  as  it  was  open  the  militia  entered  it,  followed  by 
the  troops  ;  Major  Clark  with  his  battalion  covering 
the  rear. 

"  The  retreat  in  those  circumstances  was,  you  may 
be  sure,  a  precipitate  one.  It  was  in  fact  a  flight: 
The  camp  and  artillery  were  abandoned ;  but  tha  t 
was  unavoidable,  for  not  a  horse  was  left  alive  to  have 
drawn  it  off  had  it  otherwise  been  practicable.  But 
the  most  disgraceful  part  of  the  business  is,  that  the 


IDIAN   WARS.  141 

greatest  part  of  the  men  threw  away  their  arras  and 
accoutrements,  even  after-  the  pursuit  (which  con 
tinued  about  four  miles)  had  ceased. 

"I  found  the  road  strewed  with  them  for  many 
miles,  but  was  not  able  to  remedy  it  ;  for  having  had 
all  my  horses  killed,  and  being  mounted  upon  one 
that  could  not  be  pricked  out  of  a  walk,  I  could  not 
get  forward  myself;  and  the  orders  I  sent  forward 
either  to  halt  the  front  or  prevent  the  men  from  part 
ing  with  their  arms,  were  unattended  to. 

"  The  route  continued  quite  to  fort  Jefferson,  29 
miles,  which  was  reached  a  little  after  sun-set.  The 
action  began  about  half  an  hour  before  sun-rise,  and 
the  retreat  was  attempted  at  half-past  nine  o'clock. 

"  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  get  the  returns  of 
the  killed  and  wounded  ;  but  Major  General  Butler, 
Lieut.  Col.  Oldharn,  of  the  militia  Majors  Ferguson, 
Hart  and  Clark,  are  among  the  former. 

"  I  have  now,  Sir,  finished  my  melancholy  tale  ; 
a  tale  that  will  be  felt,  sensibly  felt,  by  every  one  that 
has  sympathy  for  private  distress,  or  for  public  mis 
fortune.  I  have  nothing,  Sir,  to  lay  to  the  charge  of 
the  troops  but  their  want  of  discipline,  which,  from 
the  short  time  they  had  been  in  service,  it  was  impos 
sible  they  should  have  acquired,  and  which  ren 
dered  it  very  difficult,  when  they  were  thrown  into 
confusion  to  reduce  them  again  to  order,  and  is  one 
reason  why  the  loss  has  fallen  so  heavy  upon  the 
officers,  who  did  every  thing  in  their  power  to  effect 
it.  Neither  were  my  own  exertions  wanting,  but 
worn  down  with  illness,  and  suffering  under  a  painful 
disease,  unable  either  to  mount  or  dismount  a  horse 
without  assistance,  they  were  not  so  great  as  they 
.otherwise  would  or  perhaps  ought  to  have  been. 

"  We  were  overpowered,  by  numbers,  but  it  is 
no  more  than  justice  to  observe,  that  though  com 
posed  of  so  many  different  species  of  troops,  the  ut 
most  harmony  prevailed  through  the  whole  army  dur 
ing  the  campaign. 
19 


142 


INDIAN    WARS. 


"At  fort  Jefferson  I  found  the  first  regiment, 
which  had  returned  from  the  service  they  had  been 
sent  upon,  without  either  overtaking  the  deserters 
or  meeting  the  convoy  of  provisions.  I  am  not  cer 
tain,  Sir,  whether  I  ought  to  consider  the  absence  of 
this  regiment  from  the  field  of  action  as  fortunate  or 
otherwise.  I  incline  to  think  it  was  fortunate  ;  for  I 
very  much  doubt,  whether,  had  it  been  in  the  action 
the  fortune  of  the  day  had  been  turned  ;  and  if  it  had 
not,  the  triumph  of  the  enemy  would  have  been  more 
complete,  and  the  country  would  have  been  destitute 
of  means  of  defence. 

"  Taking  a  view  of  the  situation  of  our  broken 
troops  at  fort  Jefferson,  and  that  there  was  no  provis^- 
ions  in  the  fort,  I  called  on  the  field  officers  for  their 
advice  what  would  be  proper  further  to  be  done  :  and 
it  was  their  unanimous  opinion,  thai:  the  addition  of 
the  first  regiment,  unbroken  as  it  was,  did  not  put 
the  army  on  so  respectable  a  footing  as  it  was  in  the 
morning,  because  a  great  part  of  it  was  now  unarmed  \ 
that  it  had  been  found  unequal  to  the  enemy,  and 
should  they  come  on,  which  was  probable,  would  be 
found  so  again  ;  that  the  troops  could  not  be  thrown  in* 
to  the  fort,  because  it  was  too  small,  and  there  was  no 
provision  in  it  ;  that  provisions  were  known  to  be 
upon  the  road  at  the  distance  of  one  or  at  most  two 
marches  ;  that  therefore  it  would  be  proper  to  move 
•without  loss  of  time  to  meet  the  provisions,  when  the 
men  might  have  the  sooner  an  opportunity  of  some 
refreshment,  and  that  a  proper  detachment  might 
be  sent  back  with  it,  to  have  it  safely  deposited  in 
the  fort. 

"  This  advice  was  accepted,  and  the  army  was  put 
in  motion  again  at  ten  o'clock,  and  marched  all  night, 
and  the  succeeding  day  met  with  a  quantity  of  flour  ; 
part  of  it  was  distributed  immediately,  part  taken 
back  to  supply  the  army  on  the  march  to  fort  Hamil 
ton,  and  the  remainder,  about  fiAy  horse  loads,  sent 
forward  to  fort  Jefferson. 


INDIAN    WARS.  143 

"  I  have  said,  Sir,  in  the  former  part  of  my  com 
munication, that  we  were  overpowered  by  numbers;  of 
that,  however,  I  have  no  other  evidence  but  the 
weight  of  the  fire,  which  was  always  a  most  deadly 
one,  and  generally  delivered  from  the  ground,  few  of 
the  enemy  showing  themselves  on  foot,  except  when 
they  were  charged,  and  that  in  a  few  minutes  our 
whole  camp,  which  extended  above  850  yards  in 
length,  was  entirely  surrounded  and  attacked  on  all 
quarters. 

*'The  loss,  Sir,  the  public  has  sustained  by  the  fall 
of  so  many  officers,  particularly  Gen.  Butler,  and 
Major  Ferguson,  cannot  be  too  much  regretted  ;  but 
it  is  a  circumstance  that  will  alleviate  the  misfortune 
in  some  measure,  that  all  of  them  fell  most  gallantly 
doing  their  duty.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 
your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  AUTHUR-  ST.  CLAIR. 

"Hon.  Secretary  of  War." 


The  defeat  of  Gen,  St.  Clair  took  place  within 
three  miles  of  the  Miami  village.  The  loss  on  this 
occasion  was  about  600  killed  and  wounded,  (said  to 
be  nearly  equal  to  Braddock's  defeat,)  with  seven 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  all  the  stores.  Gen.  St.  Clair 
had  about  1 100  men;  had  reason  to  expect  an  attack, 
and  kept  his  men  under  arms  all  night,  drawn  up  in  a 
square.  The  attack  commenced  about  dawn  of 
day*  on  all  the  lines, but  principally  on  the  rear  lines, 
which  was  composed  of  the  militia.  The  Indians 
gave  onq  fire  and  rushed  on  tomahawk  in  hand.  The 
militia  gave  way  to  the  centre;  and  before  the  artil 
lery  could  be  brought  into  action  the  matrosses  were 
all  killed  and  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

It  was  retaken,  but  was  useless,  for  want  of  men  to 
manage  the  pieces.  The  action  was  continued  obsti 
nately  until  9  o'clock,  when  the  troops  gave  way. 
St.  Clair  rallied  his  msn,  and  brought  them  off  in 
tolerable  order,  with  most  of  the  .wounded,  to  fort 


144  INDIAN   WAR3. 

Jeffersons,  30  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  action.     The 
enemy  pursued  five  miles. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  return  of  the  officers 
killed  and  wounded  in  the  engagement  : 

Killed,  1  Major  General,  1  Lieut;  Col,  5  Majors, 
11  Captains,.  10  Lieutenants,  9  Ensigns,  1  Surgeon. 
—Total  38. 

Wounded,  2  Lieut.  Colonels,!  Major,  1 1  Cap 
tains,  6  Lieutenants,  6  Ensigns,!  Surgeon.  Total  17. 

Besides  the  above,  there  were  about  550  privates 
killed  and  many  more  wounded.  Few  officers  of 
distinction  escaped  except  Gen.  St.  Clair,  who  had 
many  narrow  escapes.  Kight  balls  passed  through 
his  clothes.  The  attack  was  conducted  with  aston 
ishing  intrepidity  on  the  part  of  the  Indians.  In  a 
few  moments  the  General's  tent  was  surrounded. — 
However,  he  was  rescued  by  a  party  of  regular  sol 
diers,  who  repelled  the  enemy  with  fixed  bayonets. 
There  was  a  party  of  the  Chickasaw  nation  on  their 
way  to  join  Gen.  St.  Clair,  but  did  not  arrive  in  sea 
son.  There  was  but  one  fellow  only  of  that  nation  in 
the  action,  who  killed  arid  scalped  eleven  of  the  ene 
my  with  his  own  hands,  and  engaging  with  the' 
twelfth,  he  fell,  greatly  lamented  by  the  Americans. 

Major  Gen.  Butler  was  wounded  and  carried  to  a 
convenient  place  to  have  his  wounds  dressed*,  but  an 
Indian  having  discovered  the  place  to  which  he  was 
conveyed,  broke  through  the  troops  who  attended 
him,  add  tomahawked  and  scalped  the  former,  before 
he  was  killed  by  the  troops. 

Agreeable  to  the  statement  of  the  Indians,  they 
killed  650  of  the  American  troops,  and  took  seven 
pieces  of  cannon,  £00  oxen  and  a  great  number  of 
horses  but  no  prisoners  ;  and  that  their  loss  was  only 
56  warriors  killed.  They  stated  that  they  were  4000 
strong,  and  were  commanded  by  one  of  thj  Missasago 
Indians,  who  had  been  in  the  Brittish  service  in  the 
late  war  ;  that  he  planned  and  conducted  the  attack, 


INDIA*    WARS.  145 

which  was  even  contrary  to  the  opinion  of  a  major 
ity  of  the  chiefs  ;  and  that,  after  the  Americans  began 
to  retreat,  he  told  the  Indians  they  had  killed  enough, 
and  that  it  was  proper  to  give  over  the  pursuit,  and  re 
turn  and  enjoy  the  booty  they  had  taken.  He  was  six 
feet  in  height,  about  45  years  of  age,  of  a  very  sour  and 
morose  countenance,  and  apparently  very  crafty  and 
subtle.  His  dress  was  Indian  hose  and  moccasins, 
a  blue  petticoat  that  came  half  way  down  his  thighs, 
and  European  waistcoat  and  surtout.  His  head  was 
bound  with  an  Indian  cap  that  carne  half  way  down 
his  back,  and  almost  entirely  filled  with  plain  silver 
broaches  to  the  number  of  more  than  200.  He  had 
two  earings  to  each  ear ;  the  upper  part  of  each 
was  formed  of  three  silver  medals  about  the  size  of 
a  dollar  ;  the  lower  part  was  formed  of  quarters  of 
dollars,  and  fell  more  than  12  inches  from  his  ears  ; 
one  from  each  ear  over  his  breast ;  the  other  over  his 
back.  He  had  three  very  large  nose  jewels  of  silver 
that  were  curiously  pointed. 

The   party  of  friendly  Chickasaws,  who  were   on 
their  way    to  join   the   American   troops,  arrived  at 

fort  Jefferson  two  days    after  the  bloody  action. 

They  were  commanded  by  Piomirigo,  or  the  moun 
tain  leader.  On  their  way  they  discovered  that  the 
troops  had  been  defeated,  ahd  saw  one  of  the  enemy,, 
who,  mistaking  Piomingo's  party  for  some  of  his  own 
comrades  made  up  to  them  He  perceived  his  mis 
take,  but  too  late  to  retreat.  He  was  accosted  by 
Piomingo  with  "  Rascal  you  have  been  killing  white 
men."  He  endeavoured  to  excuse  himself,  but  Pio 
mingo  ordered  two  of  his  warriors  to  extend  his 
arms,  and  a  third,  an  old  man  (for  says  Piomingo, 
"  none  of  my  young  men  shall  disgrace  themselves 
so  much  as  to  kill  a  wretch  like  thee")  to  shoot  him 
through  the  heart  ;  which  was  accordingly  executed. 
They  afterwards  took  off  his  scalp. 

During  St.  Glair's  bloody  engagement  adjutant 
Bulgess  received  two  wounds,  the  second  of  which 
proved  mortal.  After  the  receipt  of  the  first  he 


liG  INDIAN   WARS. 

continued  to  fight  with  distinguished  gallantry  ;  the 
second  unfortunately  stopped  his  progress.  Faint 
with  the  loss  of  blood  he  fell.  A  woman  who  attend 
ed  him,  and  was  particularly  attached  to  him,  raised 
him  up  and  while  supporting  him  in  her  arms  receiv 
ed  a  ball  in  her  breast,  which  put  an  immediate  end 
to  her  existence  ! 

Soon  after  Ensign  Wilson  (a  much  lamented  youth) 
fell,  one  of  the  savages  attempted  to  take  off  his 
scalp,  which  Col.  Drake  perceiving,  he  hastened  to 
the  spot,  and  with  his  sword  stabbed  the  miscreant 
through  the  body. 


INDIANS    DEFEATED. 


A  few  weeks  after  the  defeat  of  the  troops  under 
Gen.  St.  Clair,  Gen.  Scott  despatched  from  the  men 
under  his  command  two  spies  to  reconnoitre  the 
enemy,  who,  when  they  arrived  at  the  distance  of  a 
few  miles  from  the  fatal  spot  where  the  bloody  action 
was  fought,  they  discovered  a  large  party  of  Indians 
diverting  and  enjoying  themselves  with  the  plunder 
they  had  taken,  riding  the  bullocks  &c.  and  ap 
peared  to  be  mostly  drunk.  The  men  returned  and 
communicated  the  important  information  to  Gen. 
Scott,  who  thereupon  immediately  divided  his  troops 
into  three  divisions,  advanced  and  fell  on  the  enemy 
by  surprise.  The  contest  was  short  but  victorious  on 
the  part  of  the  American  troops.  Two  hundred  of 
the  enemy  were  killed  on  the  spot,  all  the  cannon 
and  stores  in  their  possession  retaken,  and  the  re 
mainder  of  the  savage  body  put  to  flight.  Gen. 
Scott  losing  but  six  men,  returned  to  head  quarters. 

Gen.  Scott  gave  the  following  affecting  account 
of  the  appearance  of  the  field  on  which  the  bloody 
action  between  the  American  troops  under  Gen.  Su 
Clair  and  the  savages  was  fought:  *•  The  place 
had  a  very  melancholy  appearance.  Nearly  in  the 


INDIAN  WARS.  147 

space  of  350  yards  lay  300  skull  bones,  which  were 
buried  by  my  men  while  on  the  ground  ;  from  thence 
for  about  five-  miles  on,  the  roads  through  the 
woods  were  strewad  with  skeletons,  muskets,  &c.5? 


DEFEAT    OF    MAJOR    M?MAHON. 

Oh  the  29th  of  July,  1794,  Maj.  M'Mahon  march 
ed  with  80  riflemen,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Hartshorn,  and  50  dragoons  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Taylor,  for  Fort  Recovery,  as  an  escort  to 
300  pack  horses  loaded  with  flour  for  the  garrison  : 
on  the  morning  following,  after  they  had  deposited 
their  loading,  and  were  preparing  to  set  out  on  their 
return, they  were  attacked  by  an  army  of  1200Indians. 
Capt.  Hartshorn,  who  had  advanced  with  the  riflemen 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  into  the  woods,  immediate 
ly  took  post  on  a  very  strong  commanding  piece 
of  ground  near  the  garrison  and  with  unparalleled 
bravery  maintained  the  unequal  fight  till  Major 
M'Mahon,  who  had  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
cavalry  was  killed,  as  was  Capt.  Taylor,  and  Cornet 
Terry,  and  many  of  the  men  wounded.  The  enemy 
now  put  their  force  against  Capt.  Hartshorn,  and  in 
the  moment  when  they  were  pushing  to  cut  off  his 
communication  with  the  garrison,  Lieut.  Drake  and 
Ensign  Dodd  sallied  out  at  the  head  of  20  brave  fel 
lows,  who  turned  out  voluntarily  on  the  occasion, 
and  joined  him,  after  beating  the  enemy  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet.  At  this  instant  the  brave  Captain 
Hartshorn  received  a  shot  which  broke  his  thigh. — 
Lieut.  Craig  was  killed,  and  Lieut.  Marks  taken 
prisoner.  Lieut.  Drake  now  ordered  a  retreat,  and 
on  endeavouring  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check  so  as  to 
give  the  men  time  to  save  Capt.  Hartshorn,  he  re 
ceived  a  shot  in  the  groin.  The  enemy  now  pressed 
so  hard  as  to  compel  the  men  to  leave  their  captain. 

Great  numbers  of  the  Indians  must  have  been 
killed,  as  they  came  forward  in  solid  columns  up  to 


148  INDIAN    WARS. 

the  muzzle  of  the  guns,  Lieut.  Michael,  who  was 
with  Capt.  Hartshorn,  but  whom  he  had  detached 
with  a  few  active  men  to  the  flank  of  the  enemy, 
was  now  missing  ;  and  while  their  companions  in  the 
fort  were  deploring  their  fate,  and  had  given  them 
up  as  lost,  they  saw  him  and  Lieutenant  Marks  rush 
ing  through  the  thick  of  the  enemy  ai  opposite  direc 
tions,  and  although  numbers  of  guns  were  fired  at 
them  they  got  in  safe.  Lieutenant  Michael  lost 
every  man  of  his  party  except  three,  and  Lieutenant 
Marks  got  off  by  knocking  down  the  Indian  who 
took  him. 

The  Indians  were  observed  to  carry  off  great 
numbers  of  killed  and  wounded  on  pack  horses.  The 
loss  of  the  Americans  was  2,3  killed,  and  about  40 
wounded.  The  party  commanded  by  Capt.  Harts 
horn,  brought  in  ten  scalps  of  the  enemy. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


DEPREDATIONS    OP    THE    INDIANS    ON    THE 
FRONTIERS. 

On  the  19th  December,1791,  as  two  men  and  three 
boys  were  fishing  on  Floid's  fork  of  Salt  River,  they 
were  suddenly  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians,  who 
killed  the  two  men  and  made  prisoners  of  the 
boys.  Soon  after  they  liberated  one  of  the  lads, 
first  presenting  him  with  a  tomahawk,  which  they 
desired  him  to  carry  to  his  friends  and  inform  them 
what  had  become  of  his  companions. 

About  the  20th  a  party  of  Indians  attacked  the 
house  of  a  Mr.  Chenoweth,  situated  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Wabash.  They  killed  and  scalped  two  of  his 
children  and  tomahawked  and  scalped  his  wife,  whom 
they  left  for  dead.  Mr.  C.  (who  had  his  arm  broken 
by  the  fire  of  the  savages)  with  the  remainder 
of  the  family  made  their  escape.  A  sick  daughter 
who  was  confined  to  her  chamber,  and  who  during 
the  bloody  affray,  had  been  forgotten  by  her  father, 
remained  ignorant  of  the  horrid  massacre  until  the 
succeeding  day;  when  no  one  of  the  family  coming  to 
her  assistance,  she  succeeded  in  crawling  down 
stairs,  where  she  was  inexpressibly  shocked  at  the 
sight  of  a  beloved  parent  stretched  upon  the  floor, 
almost  lifeless,  and  at  the  side  of  whom  lay  the  man 
gled  bodies  of  her  dear  brothers.  Fortunately,  her 
unhappy  father  returned  the  succeeding  day  to  the 
house,  and  conveyed  the  two  surviving  members  of 
his  family  to  the  house  of  a  friend,  where  they  finally 
recovered. 

On  the  24«th  a  party  of  Indians  attacked  the  dwell 
ing  house  of  a  Mr.  John  Merril,  in  Nelson  County, 
Kentucky.      Mr.  Merril,  who  was  first  alarmed  by 
the  barking  of  his  dog,  hastened  to  the  door  to 
20 


150  IHBIAH   WARS- 

cover  the  cause  ;  on  opening  of  which  he  received 
the  fire  of  the  Indians  which  broke  his  right  leg  and 
arm.  The  Indians  now  attempted  to  enter  the 
house,  but  were  prevented  by  the  door  being  imme 
diately  closed  and  secured  by  Mrs.  Merril  and  her 
daughter.  The  Indians  succeeded  in  hewing  away 
a  part  of  the  door,  through  which  passage  one  of 
them  attempted  to  enter,  but  the  heroic  mother,  in 
the  midst  of  her  screaming  children  and  groaning 
husband,  seized  an  axe  and  gave  the  ruffian  a  fatal 
blow  ;  after  which  she  hauled  him  through  the  pas 
sage  into  the  house  !  The  others  unconscious  of  the 
fate  of  their  companion,  supposing  that  they  had 
now  nearly  succeeded  in  their  object,  rushed  forward; 
four  of  which  Mrs.  Merril  in  like  manner  despatched 
before  the  others  discovered  their  mistake.  The 
remaining  Indians,  after  retiring  for  a  few  moments, 
returned  and  renewed  their  efforts  to  enter  the 
house.  Despairing  of  succeeding  at  the  door,  they 
got  on  the  top  of  the  house  and  attempted  to  descend 
the  chimney;  to  prevent  which  Mr.  Merril  directed 
his  little  son  to  empty  upon  the  fire  the  contents  of 
a  feather-bed,  which  had  the  desired  effect,  as  the 
smoke  and  heat  caused  thereby  soon  brought  down, 
rather  unexpectedly,  two  of  the  enemy.  JNJr.  Merril, 
exerting  every  faculty  at  this  critical  moment,  seized 
a  billet  of  wood  with  which  he  soon  despatched  the 
two  half  smothered  Indians,  while  in  the  mean  time 
his  heroic  wife  was  busily  engaged  in  defending  the 
door  against  the  efforts  of  the  only  remaining  one, 
whom  she  so  severely  wounded  with  an  axe  that  he 
was  soon  glad  to  retire. 

A  prisoner  who  escaped  from  the  enemy  soon  after 
the  transaction,  informed  that  the  wounded  savage 
above  mentioned  was  the  only  one  that  escaped  of 
the  party  ;  which  consisted  of  eight  ;  that  on  his  re 
turn  being  asked  by  the  prisoner  "  what  news,"  he 
answered  "  bad  news  for  poor  Indian,  me  lose  a  son, 
me  lose  a  brother  ;  the  squaws  have  taken  the  breach 
clout  and  fight  worse  than  the  long  knives  !n 


INDIAN    WARS.  151 

COPT   OP  A  LETTER  FROM  A  GENTLEMAN  RESIDING 
AT   THE   WEST-WARD,   TO   A    FRIEND   IN   NEW- 
YORK,   DATED 

"  Marietta,  Feb.  1,  1793. 

<£  Our  prospects  are  much  changed.  Instead  of 
peace  and  friendship  with  our  Indian  neighbours,  a 
horrid  savage  war  stares  us  in  the  face.  The  Indians 
instead  of  being  humbled  by  the  destruction  of  the 
Shawanese  towns,  and  brought  to  beg  for  peace,  ap 
pear  determined  on  a  general  war,  in  which  our  set 
tlements  are  already  involved.  On  the  evening  of 
the  2d  instant  they  fell  on  a  settlement  about  forty 
miles  up  the  Muskingum,  surprised  a  block-house, 
killed  fourteen  persons,  and  carried  off  three  others. 
The  persons  killed  arc,  John  and  Philip  Stacy,  sons 
to  Col.  William  Stacy  from  New-Salem  ;  Ezra  Put 
nam,  son  to  Major  Ezra  Putnam,  from  Middletown, 
in  Massachusets  ;  John  Camp,  from  the  same  place  ; 
Jonathan  Farewell  James  Cash,  and  William  Patton, 
from  New-Hampshire;  Zebulon  Throop,  from  Rarre; 
William  James,  from  Connecticut  ;  Joseph  Clark, 
from  Rhode-Island  ;  a  man  by  the  name  of  Meeks, 
with  his  wife  and  children,  from  Virginia.  These 
were  all  killed  in  and  at  the  block-house.  Francis 
and  Isaac  Choat  from  Lancaster,  and  one  Shaw,  who 
kept  at  a  hut  about  50  rods  from  the  block-house, 
was  not  found  by  the  party  that  went  out,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  they  are  prisoners.  What  number  of 
Indians  were  concerned  in  this  mischief,  or  from  what 
tribe,  we  know  not  ;  but  from  those  Indians  who 
till  lately  used  to  visit  our  settlements  every  day, 
withdrawing  themselves  entirely  from  our  sight 
ever  since  the  expedition  against  the  Shawanese, 
there  is  little  reason  to  doubt  but  the  Delawares  and 
the  Wyandotts,  as  well  as  others,  have  had  a  hand  in 
this  nefarious  business. 

<c  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  give  a  just  idea  of  the 
distress  into  which  this  event  has  thrown  the  inhabi 
tants,  especially  those  of  the  out  settlements.  For 
my  own  part  I  have  for  some  time  been  of  opinion^ 


153  INDIAN  WARS. 

that  the  spring  would  open  with  a  general  attack  on 
the  frontiers,  in  which  event  1  did  not  expect  we 
should  escape,  unless  government  should  timely  send 
troops  for  our  protection,  which  we  were  in  hopes 
would  be  the  case.  But  it  seems  the  enemy  are  de 
termined  to  take  advantage  of  our  defenceless  situa 
tion.  I  consider  this  event  as  the  forerunner  of 
other  attacks  of  a  more  serious  nature,  and  which 
may  involve  us  in  complete  ruin,  unless  prevented 
by  government  immediately  taking  measures  for  our 
protection.  To  their  protection  I  conceive  we  al 
ways  had  an  indisputable  claim,  which  claim,  if  pos 
sible,  is  increased  by  the  circumstances  that  have 
brought  us  under  the  resentment  of  the  Indians,  and 
at  least,  in  some  measure  produced  the  mischief  that 
we  are  fallen  into." 

COPY  OP   A    LETTER    FROM  A  GENTLEMAN    IN  KEN 
TUCKY  TO  A  FRIEND  IN  PHILADELPHIA,   DATED 

Cl  March  3,  1792. 

% 

"  As  to  the  Indians,  they  have  been  troublesome 
all  winter.  Since  October  last  60  persons  have  been 
killed  within  the  limits  of  this  district,  beside  a  num* 
ber  destroyed  on  the  Ohio  ;  among  whom  is  our  old 
acquaintance,  Mr.  John  May,  late  of  Botetoute, 
whose  exit  deserves  notice,  because  he  was  actuated 
by  motives  of  humanity.  The  affair  is  thus  related  by 
a  captive  that  has  lately  made  his  escape  from  the  In 
dians,  who  was  a  spectator,  and  an  unwilling  instru 
ment  in  the  tragedy, 

41  Mr.  May,  in  descending  the  Great  Kanhawa  and 
Ohio,  about  the  20th  February  last,  discovered 
on  the  western  shore  of  the  latter,  near  the  mouth 
of  Sciota,  a  white  man,  who  with  a  plaintive  voice, 
was  calling  for  God's  sake,  to  come  and  take  a  poor 
prisoner  on  board,  that  was  endeavouring  to  escape 
from  the  savages.  This  had  the  desired  effect. 
Mr.  May  ordered  the  boat  towards  the  shore,  and 
did  not  discover  hit  mistake  until  the  Indians  rose 


INDIAN    WARS.  153 

up  from  their  ambush,  fired,  shot  him  dead,  and 
wounded  some  others  of  the  passengers  on  board, 
who  immediate!)'  endeavored  to  make  off;  but  being 
told  in  the  English  tongue,  they  should  have  good 
quarters,  surrendered  without  resistance.  The  In 
dians,  however,  on  boarding  the  boat,  massacred  all 
without  discrimination.  Two  days  after,  the  same 
party  attempted  to  decoy  three  large  boats  ashore 
that  were  coming  down  from  fort  Pitt,  but  luckily 
they  were  discovered  in  time,  and  our  people  sheered 
off.  The  enemy,  being  prepared,  manned  some  of 
their  boats  with  about  30  warriors,  and  gave  chase. 
The  crews  of  two  of  the  boats,  fearing  they  might  be 
overtaken,  quitted  them,  and  went  on  board  the 
best  sailer,  where  they  threw  overboard  all  their 
horses,  and  some  heavy  articles,  and  plied  all  their 
oars  to  effect  their  escape.  The  Indians  also  exert 
ed  themselves  in  the  pursuit,  keeping  on  a  steady 
course  for  about  20  miles,  notwithstanding  24  well 
armed  white  men  were  on  board  the  American  boat, 
with  one  of  our  colonels  of  militia. 

"•Thus,  for  want  of  a  little  resolution  and  skill  a 
favorable  opportunity  was  lost,  to  destroy  a  number 
of  the  vile  enemies  of  the  human  race.  The  Indians, 
on  their  return,  took  possession  of  the  two  boats  that 
were  abandoned,  and  found  in  them  17  horses,  5000 
dollars  worth  of  merchandize,  and  considerable  prop 
erty,  belonging  to  the  emigrants. 

"  Fort  M'Intosh,  on  the  Ohio,  was  a  short  time 
since  attacked  by  a  party  of  the  Indians.  They 
secreted  themselves  near  the  fort  and  succeeded  in 
killing  the  sentinel  on  duty.  They  then  rushed  into 
the  fort  and  discharged  their  pieces  on  those  within. 
One  man  only  was  wounded,  who,  in  endeavouring  to 
escape  was  tomahawked  by  an  Indian.  One  ball 
just  grazed  the  temple  of  Capt.  Forbes,  who  com 
manded  the  guard,  and  four  others  struck  the  log 
above  his  head,  the  splinters  and  bits  of  which  cut  his 
face,  and  left  it  as  if  scarified.  The  garrison  consisted 
of  20  men,  and  there  were  about  40  of  the  enemy. 


154  INDIAN  WARS. 

"Thus,  Sir,  we  find  that  Indian  treaties  do  not  se 
cure  our  country  from  the  depredations  of  the  sava 
ges.  Our  last  hope  now  is  that  the  President  of  the 
United  States  will  ere  long,  adopt  such  measures  as 
will  prove  the  efficiency  of  the  Federal  Government 
to  protect  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  however 
remotely  situated  from  the  seat  of  government." 

COPY    OF    A    LETTER    FROM    A    GENTLEMAN    IN 

SOUTH    CAROLINA    TO    A     FRIEND    IN    NEW 

YORK,    DATED 

Charleston,  August  6,  1792. 

"An  express  arrived  from  Gen.  Pickens  and  Col. 
Anderson,  which  brings  advices  to  the  Governor, 
stating  that  a  general  Indian  war  on  the  western 
frontiers  of  the  southern  states  seems  inevitable;  that 
by  intelligence  from  the  country  of  the  Creeks,  all  the 
tribes  except  the  Custawas  are  determined  for  war, 
urged  by  Galphin,  the  successor  of  M'Gillivray  ; 
and  that  they  have  already  commenced  hostilities 
within  the  Carolina  line,  a  party  of  them  having 
killed  and  scalped  a  man  on  Tugaloo.  We  hear  his 
excellency  has  ordered  one  third  of  the  militia  in  the 
upper  districts  to  be  drafted,  and  held  in  readiness 
for  immediate  service  should  the  savages  make  fur 
ther  depredations  on  the  frontiers. 

41  Yesterday  evening  a  gentleman  arrived  here 
from  Augusta,  who  informed  us.  that  six  of  the  Creek 
towns  with  a  number  of  Cherokees,  had  declared 
war  against  the  United  States,  and  were  actually 
marching  under  the  command  of  Bowles  and  Galphin 
to  attack  the  frontiers. 

"On  the  22d  ult.  the  Indians,  37  in  number,  came 
to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Richard  Thresher,  in  Augusta, 
and  fired  upon  and  killed  IMr.  Thresher,  two  children 
and  a  negro  woman.  Mrs.  Thresher,  to  avoid  if 
possible  the  fate  with  which  she  was  threatened, 
fled  with  an  infant  of  about  five  or  six  weeks  old  in 
her  arms,  and  leaped  into  the  river.  The  Indians 
pursued,  shot  her  through  the  thigh  and  right 


INDIAN    WARS.  155 

breast,  stabbed  her  in  the  left  breast  witb  a  knife, 
cut  her  left  arm  nearly  off,  and  then  scalped  her. 
In  this  horrid  situation  she  remained  until  the  ne'gh- 
bours  could  assemble  in  sufficient  numbers  to  cross 
the  river  and  pursue  the  Indians.  As  the  first  canoe 
was  crossing  she  had  strength  enough  to  call  for 
assistance.  They  went,  found  her  hanging  by  a  bush 
in  water  nearly  up  to  her  chin,  her  infant  at  the  bot 
tom  of  the  river,  a  few  yards  from  her.  She  lived 
24  hours,  and  when  informed  by  her  physician  that  it 
was  impossible  for  her  to  survive  much  longer,  she 
with  a  fortitude  that  is  rarely  to  be  met  with,  called 
her  friends  around  her,  and  in  a  cairn  but  pathetic 
manner,  gave  her  hand  to  each  one,  wishing  them  a 
better  fate  than  had  befallen  herself  and  family  ;  and 
when,  after  her  speech  failed,  as  neighbours  were  con 
stantly  coming  in,  she  continued  to  give  her  hand  un 
til  about  five  minutes  before  she  resigned  her  breath, 
which  was  without  a  groan. 

"  Mrs.  Thresher  was  about  25  years  of  age,  of  a 
respectable  family  and  elegant  person,  and  possessed 
an  uncommon  education. 

u  On  Thursday  the  24th  two  men  were  killed  in 
Franklin  and  40  horses  carried  off;  and  since  the 
frontiers  have  retreated  into  forts,  without  arms  or 
ammunition.  At  one  meeting  of  near  40  persons 
they  could  only  muster  five  old  muskets  ;  and  to 
heighten  the  horror  of  their  condition,  the  Indians 
were  momentarily  expected. 

il  As  similar  murders  were  daily  committed,  it  called 
up  the  spirit  of  900  gallant  fellows,  who  marched 
last  week  against  the  savages,  determined  to  revenge 
the  cruelties  perpetrated  on  the  infant,  the  mother 
and  the  defenceless. 

14  To  see  the  country  all  in  forts,  breaking  up, 
leaving  their  farms,  their  corn  and  their  houses  burnt 
up,  is  truly  distressing.  At  this  time  nearly  half  the 
country  are  in  forts. 


153  INDIAN   WAR*, 

"  Capt.  Kenton  with  about  35  men,  who  went  np 
the  Ohio  in  order  to  intercept  the  Indians  who  took 
Morgan's  station,  fell  in  with  a  trail  of  a  party  of  In 
dians  on  the  waters  of  Point  Creek,  coming  in  to  the 
settlement.  He  followed  them,  and  at  night  ob 
serving  he  was  near  them,  sent  forward  some  spies 
to  discover  their  fires.  Unluckily  the  spies  fell  in 
with  their  camp,  and  before  they  discovered  it  the 
Indians  were  alarmed  by  a  dog  which  flew  out  at  the 
spies  ;  upon  which  the  Indians  fired  on  them.  The 
spies  returned  the  fire.  Upon  hearing  the  firing  the 
whole  of  the  party  came  up,  and  the  Indians  retreat 
ed,  leaving  their  baggage  ;  among  which  was  a  quan 
tity  of  powder,  lead  and  blankets.  Kenton  had  one 
man  killed.  It  is  supposed  two  Indians  were  killed 
and  carried  off,  from  some  discoveries  that  were  made 
next  morning." 

COPY    OF   A   LETTER    FROM    FORT    WASHINGTON, 
DATED 

April  20,  1792. 

'* On  Tuesday  morning  the  6th  inst.  Major  Adair, 
with  1£0  volunteers  from  Kentucky,  having  charge 
of  a  large  number  of  pack  horses  laden  with  provis 
ions,  destined  for  the  advanced  posts,  was  most  dar 
ingly  attacked  by  nearly  an  equal  party  of  Indians, 
although  under  cover  of  fort  St.  Clair  ;  notwithstand 
ing  which,  and  that  our  people  fought  desperately, 
the  Indians  drove  them  into  the  fort,  and  carried  off 
all  their  provisions  and  horses,  both  pack  and  cavalry, 
save  about  twenty  killed  and  four  wounded,  and 
stripped  the  camp  of  every  thing,  carrying  the  whole 
off  with  most  audacious  insult  and  triumph.  But 
as  soon  as  the  party  were  resupplied  with  ammu 
nition  from  the  garrison,  they  sallied  forth  near  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  enemy  ;  but  too  late  to 
recover  the  booty  which  the  Indians  had  made.  The 
courage  and  daring  spirit  of  these  people  were  par 
ticularly  conspicuous  on  this  occasion,  as  they  fought 
almost  under  the  guns  of  the  fort.  Our  loss  was  one 


INDIAN    WARS,  157 

captain  and  ten  privates    killed,  and  some  wounded, 
besides  horses    and   provisions,  estimated  at  15,000 
dollars,     Two  of  the  enemy  were  found  dead  a  short 
distance  from  the  field  of  action.     If  these  Indians 
had  writers  among  them,  what  honourable  testimony 
and  eulogy  might   they  not  give  of  the  noble  spirit 
and  heroic  bravery,  of  the  native  American  character, 
rather  than  depreciate  it  as  the  Europeans  do.     Two 
of  our  men  have  lately   made   their  escape  from  the 
Miami  villages  and  arrived  here,  who  give  account  of 
a  mock  fight  lately    exhibited  by  the  Indians  assem 
bled  there,  and  to  divert  the  squaws  and  children. 
It  was  in  ridicule  of  General  St.  Glair's  disposition  of 
his   troops  on  the  4th  of  November  last,  and  of  his 
flight  before  the    Indians,  who    pursued  him  and  his 
array  whilst  the   other  plundered  his  camp.     They 
have  given  out  that  they  mean  to  celebrate  this  event 
annually  by  a  like  sham  fight  and  a  great  dance,  to  be 
called  General  St.  Glair's   fight  and  dance.     It  is  to 
be  hoped  we  yet  shall   have  an  opportunity  to  retali 
ate  and  to  teach  our  enemy  to  amuse  themselves  at 
our  expense  in  a  less  ludicrous    manner.     It    seems 
that  Gen.  St.  Glair's  field  of  action  was  on  a  branch 
of  the  Wabash,  24  leagues   from  the  Miami  towns, 
which  are  now  inhabited  by  the  hostile  Indians. 

"A  letter  from  a  correspondent,  on  whose  veracity 
we  can  rely,  in  the  territory  of  the  United  States 
south  of  the  river  Ohio,  dated  17th  ult.  states, 
that  every  thing  wears  a  gloomy  aspect  on  the  west 
ern  frontiers  ;  that  about  the  last  of  December,  the 
Gherokees  sent  in  peace  talkers  to  Governor  Blount, 
which  were  only  intended  to  facilitate  the  commis 
sion  of  further  depredations  by  them,  when  the 
guards  from  out-posts  were  withdrawn  ;  that  from 
the  16th  to  the  26th  of  January,  the  Indians  killed 
and  wounded  19  persons  in  Cumberland,  among 
whom  was  Edwin  Shelby,  brother  to  the  Governor  of 
Kentucky  ;  that  four  of  the  Chickamogga  towns,  and 
the  upper  Creeks  have  declared  war ;  that  the 
Creeks  have  killed  a  family  in  the  county  of  Georgia; 
21 


158  INDIAN    WARS. 

that  the  barbarity  exercised  by  them  in  this  massacre 
was  enough  to  make  human  nature  shudder  at  the 
bare  recital.  They  butchered  them  like  so  many 
dogs,  caught  their  blood  and  bowels,  exposed  them 
to  view,  and  then  gave  the  whole  to  a  tame  bear  to 
devour ;  that  the  Cherokees  had  killed  two  Creeks, 
wounded  several,  and  taken  two  prisoners  ;  that  the 
Creeks  threaten  to  retaliate,  and  cut  them  all  off; 
that  the  inhabitants  of  the  territory  are  waiting  with 
impatience  for  the  general  government  to  afford  them 
succour  and  protection  ;  that  treaties  with  the  sav 
ages  will  avail  nothing,  as  what  promise  they  make 
to-day  they  will  not  hesitate  to  break  to-morrow.53 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  John  Corbly,  a  Baptist  Minister,  to  his 
friend  in  Philadelphia,  dated 

"  Muddy  Creek,  Penn.  Sept.  1,  1792. 

(i  Dear  Sir, 

"  The  following  are  the  particulars  of  the 
destruction  of  my  unfortunate  family  by  the  savages. 
On  the  10th  May  last,  being  my  appointment  to 
preach  at  one  of  my  meeting  houses,  about  a  mile 
from  my  dwelling  house,  I  sat  out  with  my  loving 
wife  and  five  children,  for  public  worship.  Not  sus 
pecting  any  danger,  I  walked  behind  a  few  rods  with 
my  Bible  in  my  hand,  meditating.  As  I  was  thus 
employed,  on  a  sudden  I  was  greatly  alarmed  by 
the  frightful  shrieks  of  my  dear  family  before  me. 
I  immediately  ran  to  their  relief  with  all  possible 
speed,  vainly  hunting  a  club  as  I  ran.  When  within 
a  Tew  yards  of  them,  my  poor  wife  observing  me 
cried  out  to  me  to  make  my  escape.  At  this  instant 
an  Indian  ran  up  to  shoot  me.  I  had  to  strip,  and  by 
so  doing  out-ran  him.  My  wife  had  an  infant  in  her 
arms,  which  the  Indians  killed  and  scalped.  After 
which  they  struck  my  wife  several  times,  but  not 
bringing  her  to  the  ground,  the  Indian  who  attempted 
to  shoot  me  approached  her  and  shot  her  through 
the  body.  After  which  they  scalped  her  !  My 


INDIAN    WARS.  159 

little  son,  about  six  years  old  they  despatched  by  sink 
ing  their  hatchets  into  his  brains  !  My  little  daugh 
ter,  four  years  old,  they  in  like  manner  tomahawked 
and  scalped  !  My  eldest  daughter  attempted  an 
escape  by  concealing  herself  in  a  hollow  tree  about 
six  rods  from  the  fatal  scene  of  action.  Observing 
the  Indians  retiring,  as  she  supposed,  she  deliberately 
crept  from  the  place  of  her  concealment,  when  one 
of  the  Indians,  who  yet  remained  on  the  ground, 
espying  her,  ran  up  to  her,  and  with  his  tomahawk 
knocked  her  down  and  scalped  her.  But,  blessed 
be  God,  she  yet  survives,  as  does  her  little  sister 
whom  the  savages  in  like  manner  tomahawked  and 
scalped.  They  are  mangled  to  a  shocking  degree, 
but  the  doctors  think  there  are  some  hopes  of  their 
recovery. 

"  When  I  supposed  the  Indians  gone  I  returned  to 
see  what  had  become  of  my  unfortunate  family, 
whom,  alas,  I  found  in  the  situation  above  described. 
No  one,  my  dear  friend,  can  form  a  true  conception 
of  my  feelings  at  this  moment.  A  view  of  a  scene 
so  shocking  to  humanity  quite  overcome  me.  I  faint 
ed,  and  was  unconsciously  borne  off  by  a  friend,  who 
at  that  instant  arrived  to  my  relief. 

*'  Thus,  dear  sir,  have  I  given  you  a  faithful  though 
a  short  narrative  of  the  fatal  catastrophe  ;  amidst 
which  my  life  is  spared,  but  for  what  purpose  the 
Great  JEHOVAH  best  knows.  Oh,  may  I  spend  it  to 
the  praise  and  glory  of  his  grace,  who  worketh  all 
things  after  the  council  of  his  own  will.  The  gov 
ernment  of  the  world  and  the  churdh  is  in  his  hands. 
I  conclude  with  wishing  you  every  blessing,  and  sub 
scribe  myself  your  affectionate  though  afflicted  friend 
.an  unworthy  brother  in  the  gospel  ministry. 

"JOHN  CORBLY." 


On  the  27th  September,  1792,  as  five  gentlemen 
(Messrs.  Jacobus  Taller,  Isaac  Arnold,  James  Stew 
art,  Daniel  Barclay,  and  Isaac  Van  Alstync,)  were 


160  INDIAN    WARS. 

on  their  way  to  Detroit,  at  a  place  called  the  Burdle, 
on  Lake  Erie,  they  were  suddenly  attacked  by  four 
Mahagon  or  Delaware  Indians,  armed  with  muskets 
and  tomahawks,  who  fired  on  them  and  killed  Mr. 
Taller  and  Mr.  Arnold.  They  then  rushed  on  with 
their  tomahawks.  One  attacked  Mr.  Arnold  who, 
after  a  smart  struggle,  in  which  he  received  several 
wounds  in  his  head  disengaged  himself,  and  having  a 
musket  at  the  instant  presented  him  by  Mr.  Stewart, 
snapped  at  the  Indian,  who  immediately  thereupon 
with  the  three  others  fled  to  the  woods.  As  soon  as 
they  had  disappeared,  Mr.  Arnold  and  his  compan 
ions  hastened  to  the  shore  of  the  lake,  in  which  they 
launched  their  batteau,  but  when  about  thirty  rods 
from  the  shore,  they  were  hailed  by  Mr.  Van  Afetyne, 
who  during  the  bloody  contest  had  secreted  himself 
in  the  bushes.  He  begged  of  his  companions  to  re 
turn  and  take  him  on  board,  on  which  Mr.  Arnold 
requested  him  to  proceed  a  few  rods  down  the  lake 
to  a  point  of  land,  where  he  could  more  conveniently 
take  him  in.  Mr.  Van  Alstyne,  it  was  supposed, 
misunderstanding  his  friend  proceeded  directly  up 
the  lake,  to  the  very  spot  where  the  Indians  were 
then  assembled,  who  with  their  tomahawks  instantly 
despatched  him  ;  after  which  they  followed  the  two 
survivors  in  an  old  canoe,  two  or  three  miles  down 
the  lake,  but  being  unable  to  overtake  .them  they  dis 
continued  the  pursuit. 


Copy  of  a  letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Marietta,  to  his  friend  in 
Washington,  dated 

"  Marietta,  March  4,  1793. 

"  About  two  weeks  since  two  brothers  by  the 
name  of  Johnston,  one  12  the  other  9  years  of  age, 
were  playing  on  the  western  bank  of  Short  Creek, 
about  12  miles  from  this,  skipping  stones  in  the  wa 
ter.  At  a  distance  they  discovered  two  men,  who 
appeared  to  be  settlers,  being  dressed  with  coats  and 


INDIAN    WARS.  161 

hats.  These  men,  to  amuse  and  deceive  the  children, 
engaged  in  the  same  sport  advancing  towards  the  boys 
till  by  degrees  they  got  so  near  that  the  children  dis 
covered  them  to  be  Indians  ;  but  it  was  then  too  late 
to  make  their  escape.  The  Indians  seized  and  carried 
them  six  miles  into  the  woods,  where  they  made  a  fire 
and  took  up  their  lodgings  for  the  night.  Their 
rifles  and  tomahahawks  they  rested  against  a  tree,  and 
then  laid  down,  each  Indian  with  a  boy  on  his  arm. 
The  children  as  may  be  supposed  kept  awake.  The 
eldest  began  to  move,  and  finding  his  Indian  sound 
asleep,  by  degrees  disengaged  himself  and  went  to 
the  fire,  which  had  then  got  low,  and  stired  it  up  ; 
the  Indian  not  waking,  he  whispered  to  his  brother, 
who  likewise  crept  away,  and  both  of  them  went  to 
the  fire. 

"  The  oldest  boy  then  observed  to  his  brother, 
"  I  think  we  can  kill  these  Indians,  and  get  rid  of 
them."  The  youngest  agreed  in  the  proposal  of 
attempting  it.  The  oldest  then  took  one  of  the 
rifles,  and  placed  the  muzzle,  which  he  rested  on  a 
small  stick,  that  he  found  for  the  purpose,  close  to 
the  head  of  one  of  the  Indians,  and  committing  the 
execution  of  this  part  of  the  business  to  his  brother, 
ordered  him  to  pull  the  trigger  at  the  moment  he 
saw  him  strike  the  other  Indian  with  one  of  the 
tomahawks.  The  oldest  gave  the  signal  !  The 
youngest  pulled  the  trigger.  The  rifle  shot  away  the 
lower  part  of  the  Indian's  face,  and  left  him  senseless; 
he  then  told  his  brother  to  lay  on,  for  he  had  done 
-the  deed  for  his  ;  after  which  he  snatched  up  the 
gun  and  ran.  The  boy  with  the  tomahawk  gave  the 
stroke  with  the  wrong  end.  The  Indian  started  on 
his  seat.  The  boy  found  the  mistake,  and  turning 
the  tomahawk  in  his  hand,  gave  him  another  blow 
which  brought  him  to  the  ground.  He  repeated  his 
strokes  until  he  had  despatched  him,  and  then  made 
the  best  of  his  way  after  his  brother.  When  the 
boys  had  found  the  path  which  they  recollected  to 
have  travelled  before,  the  oldest  fixed  his  hat  on  a 


162  INDIAN    WARS. 

bush,  as  a  directory  to  find  the  scene  of  action  the 
next  day.  The  tomahawked  Indian  was  found  near 
the  place  where  the  boys  had  left  him.  The  other 
was  not  there  ;  but  was  tracked  by  his  blood,  and 
although  so  weakened  by  his  wounds  that  he  could 
not  raise  his  rifle  to  fire  at  the  pursuers,  they  suffered 
him  to  escape  ;  but  it  is  supposed  he  must  have  died 
of  his  wounds.  These  two  Indians  were  sent  out  to 
reconnoitre  the  best  place  for  an  attack,  which  was 
to  have  been  made  by  a  body  of  warriors,  waiting  in 
the  neighbourhood." 


Copy  of  a  letter  from  Col.  Robertson,  to  Gen.  Washington,  dated 

"Nashville,  February  1,  1798. 

"  Sir — By  accounts  received  from  the  Chickasaw 
nation  of  Indians,  we  are  informed  that  at  a  grand 
council  of  their  warriors,  it  was  unanimously  deter 
mined  to  commence  active  operations  against  the 
whites.  The  Cherokees  they  expect  will  join  them. 
The  white  inhabitants  in  this  quarter  are  drawing 
together,  and  are  doing  every  thing  possible  for  their 
defence,  but  I  fear  without  some  timely  assistance 
we  shall  all  fall  a  sacrifice  to  the  wanton  barbarity 
of  our  savage  foes,  who  we  expect  are  now  on  their 
way  to  this  place  to  the  number  of  1000.  Major 
Hall  and  his  eldest  son  fell  a  sacrifice  to  their  fury 
two  days  ago,  near  Bedole's  Lick.  They  have  killed 
about  24  persons  in  the  course  of  a  few  months  in 
this  settlement,  besides  a  great  number  more  near  it. 

"  From  Burke  county  we  learn,  that  on  the  llth 
instant  two  men,  a  woman  and  her  infant  daughter, 
were  scalped  at  Williams's  Swamp,  on  the  Ogechc 
river,  by  a  party  of  Indians.  The  little  girl,  to  deter 
them  from  their  cruel  design,  held  out  a  bottle  of 
honey,  telling  them  it  was  rum,  begging  them  in  the 
mean  time  to  spare  her  life.  They  told  her  they  did 
not  want  rum,  but  her  hair  !  They  knocked  her  down 


INDIAN    WARS.  .        163 

and  scalped  her,  but  we  are  happy  to  learn  she  is  in  a 
fair  way  of  recovery. 

IC  By  a  letter  from  Kentucky  I  am  informed  that  the 
Indians  have  done  more  mischief  in  that  state  the 
present  year  than  for  at  least  four  years  past  Scarce 
a  boat  can  pass  below  Limestone  but  what  is  attacked 
by  them.  Six  or  seven  have  been  captured,  some 
with  very  valuable  lading.  By  a  prisoner  who  es 
caped  from  them  a  short  time  since,  we  were  informed 
that  the  Indians  have  procured  a  boat,  or  rather  a 
kind  of  floating  battery,  with  the  sides  built  high  and 
rendered  bullet  proof.  This  boat  is  stationed  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami.  They  a  few  days 
since  captured  a  boat  in  which  were  a  Capt,  Ashley 
and  his  family.  A  son  of  the  captain,  having  been 
very  spirited  in  the  opposition,  the  savages  immedi 
ately  put  him  to  death,  cut  out  his  heart,  and  broiled 
it,  which  they  afterwards  devoured  in  the  presence  of 
the  unhappy  father,  who  has  since  made  his  escape." 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  Gen.  Clark  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor 
ot  the  Stale  of  Georgia,  dated 

11  Long  Creek,  Sept.  24,  1793. 

"  Sir — I  had  certain  information  that  a  man  was 
killed  on  the  14th  near  Greensborough,  by  a  party  of 
six  or  seven  Indians  ;  and  that  on  the  16th  Col. 
Barber,  with  a  small  party  was  waylaid  by  50  or  6<$ 
Indians,  by  whom  three  of  his  party  were  killed. 
This,  together  with  a  variety  of  other  accounts 
equally  alarming,  determined  me  to  raise  what  men  I 
could  in  the  course  of  24  hours,  and  march  with  them- 
to  protect  the  frontiers;  in  which  space  of  time  %  I 
collected  164  men,  chiefly  volunteers,  and  proceeded' 
to  the  place  where  Col.  Barber  had  been  attacked, 
where  I  found  the  bodies  of  the  three  men  mentioned 
above,  mangled  in  a  shocking  manner,  and  after  I  had 
buried  them,  proceeded  on  the  trail  of  the  murder 
ers  as  far  as  the  south  fork  of  the  Oakmulglee,  where 
finding  I  had  no  chance  of  overtaking  them,  \L  left  it 


11-  INDIAN   WARS. 

and  went  up  said  river,  until  I  met  with  a  fresh  trail 
of  Indians  coming  in  towards  our  frontier  settlements. 
I  immediately  turned  and  followed  this  trail  until  the 
morning  of  the  21st,  between  11  and  12  o'clock, 
when  I  came  up  with  them.  They  had  just  crossed 
a  branch,  called  Jack's  Creek,  through  a  thick  cane 
brake,  and  were  encamped  and  cooking  on  an  emi 
nence.  My  force  then  consisted  of  130  men,  30  hav 
ing  been  sent  back  on  account  of  their  horses  having 
been  tired  and  lost.  I  drew  up  my  men  in  three 
divisions,  the  right  commanded  by  Colonel  Free 
man  and  Major  Clark,  who  were  ordered  to  jfurround 
and  charge  the  Indians,  which  they  did  with  such 
dexterity  and  spirit  that  they  immediately  drove 
them  from  their  encampment  back  into  the  cane 
brake,  where,  finding  it  impossible  for  them  to  es 
cape  they  obstinately  returned  our  fire  until  half  past 
four  o'clock,  when  they  ceased,  except  now  and  then 
a  shot. 

"  During  the  latter  part  of  the  action  they  seized 
every  opportunity  of  escaping  by  small  parties,  leav 
ing  the  rest  to  shift  for  themselves.  About  sun-set, 
I  thought  it  most  advisable  to  draw  off,  as  the  men 
had  suffered  for  want  of  provisions  nearly  two  days, 
and  for  want  of  water  during  the  action,  but  more 
particularly  to  take  care  of  the  wounded,  which 
amounted  to  eleven  ;  and  six  killed.  From  every 
circumstance  I  am  certain  there  were  not  less  than 
25  Indians  killed,  and  probably  double  that  number 
wounded.  In  short  they  were  totally  defeated,  with 
the  loss  of  their  provisions,  clothing,  &c.  consisting 
of  the  following  articles  :  4  muskets,  32  brass-kettles, 
and  100  large  packs,  containing  blankets, match-coats, 
boots,  moccasons,  tomahawks,  pipes,  upwards  of  100 
halters  and  bridles,  &c.  from  all  of  which  I  judge 
their  number  was  fully  equal  to  ours.  Col.  Freeman 
and  Major  Clarke  distinguished  themselves,  and  from 
the  spirit  and  bravery  with  which  the  whole  of  my 
little  party  acted  during  the  action,  1  do  not  believe 
that  had  we  m<-t  them  in  the  open  woods  we  should 


IDIAN  WARS.  165 

/ 

have  been  more  than  five  minutes  in  destroying 
them  all. 

4 'While  I  was  on  this  excursion  two  skirmishes 
happened  near  Greensborough,  in  one  of  whicJi  one 
man  was  wounded,  and  in  the  other  six  stand  of 
arms  were  lost,  being  guarded  by  only  two  men, 
while  the  rest  of  the  party  were  gathering  fodder. 

"I  am,  Sir,  with  the  utmost  respect,  your  Excel 
lency's  most  obedient,  and  very  humble  servant, 

"B.  CLARKE,  Brig.  Gen. 

"  His  Ex.  GEORGE  MATTHEWS,  Governor  of  Georgia." 

Copy  of  a  letter  from   an   officer    in   the  service  of  the  United 
States  to  his  friend  in  New  York,  dated 

"  Buffalo  Creek,  Sept.  27,  1793. 

"  I  left  fort  Franklin  the  3d  instant,  and  arrived 
here  the  llth  in  the  evening,  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Winney,  who  informs  me  that  upwards  of  4000 
hostile  Indians  were  now  assembled  at  the  Mi 
ami  villages,  and  that  their  number  was  daily  in- 
creasing.  Captain  Powell  and  several  other  gen- 
llemen  of  the  British  army,  dined  with  me  yester 
day,  and  from  their  conversation  I  am  perfectly 
convinced  that  the  Indians  are  supported  by  the 
British  in  the  war  against  us.  Indeed,  Captain 
Powell  told  me,  that  all  the  intentions  of  the  Indians 
was  well  known  to  them,  and  the  Indians  were 
their  allies,  and  of  course  they  must  support  them. 
He  also  informed  me  that  ten  scouts  of  the  hostile  In 
dians  were  then  out  to  strike  on  the  frontiers,  and 
that  they  would  soon  strike  the  Six  Nations- 
Some  of  the  chiefs  of  the  hostile  Indians  passed 
here  about  five  days  ago  on  their  way  to  Canada, 
but  what  their  business  is  I  cannot  learn.53 
22 


CHAP.  XII. 

DEFEAT    OP    THE    INDIANS    BY    GEN.    WAYNE. 
GEN.    WAYNE    TO    THE    SECRETARY    OF    WAR. 


"  Sir — It  is  with  infinite  pleasure  that  I  an 
nounce  to  you  the  brilliant  success  of  the  federal 
army  under  my  command,  in  a  general  action  with 
the  combined  force  of  the  hostile  Indians,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  the  volunteers  and  militia 
of  Detroit,  on  the  29th  of  August,  1794,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Miamis,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  British 
post  and  garrison  at  the  foot  of  the  Rapids. 

u  The  army  advanced  at  Roach  de  Bout  on  the 
15th,  and  on  the  19th  we  were  employed  in  making 
a  temporary  post  for  the  reception  of  our  stores  and 
baggage,  and  in  reconnoitering  the  position  of  the  en 
emy,  who  were  encamped  behind  a  thick  bushy  wood 
and  the  British  fort. 

"At 8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  the 
army  again  advanced  in  columns  agreeably  to  the 
standing  order  of  the  march  ;  the  legion  on  the 
right,  its  right  flank  covered  .by  the  Miamis  ;  one 
brigade  of  mounted  volunteers  on  the  left  under 
Brig.  Gen.  Todd,  and  the  other  in  the  rear  under 
Brig.  Gen.  Berbee.  A  select  battallion  of  mount 
ed  volunteers  moved  in  front  of  the  legation  com 
manded  by  Major  Price,  who  was  directed  to  keep 
sufficiently  advanced  and  to  give  timely  notice  for 
the  troops  to  form  in  case  of  action,  it  being  yet 
undetermined  whether  the  Indians  would  decide  for 
peace  or  war. 

"After  advancing  about  five  miles,  Major  Price's 


INDIAN  WARS.  167 

corps  received  so  severe  a  fire  from  the  enemy, 
who  were  secreted  in  the  woods  and  high  grass, 
as  to  compell  them  to  retreat. 

"  The  legion  was  immediately  formed  in  two 
lines,  principally  in  a  close  thick  wood  which  ex 
tended  for  miles  on  our  left,  and  for  a  very  consider 
able  distance  in  front,  the  ground  being  cover 
ed  with  old  fallen  timber,  probably  occasioned 
by  a  tornado,  which  rendered  it  impracticable  for 
the  cavalry  to  act  with  effect,  and  afforded  the  en 
emy  the  most  favorable  covert  for  their  mode  of 
warfare.  The  savages  were  formed  in  three  lines 
within  supporting  distance  of  each  other,  and  ex 
tending  for  near  two  miles  at  right  angles  with 
the  river.  I  soon  discovered  from  the  weight  of 
the  fire  and  extent  of  their  lines,  that  the  enemy 
were  in  full  force  in  front,  in  possession  of  their 
favorite  ground,  and  endeavouring  to  turn  our  left 
flank.  I  therefore  gave  orders  for  the  second  line 
to  advance  to  support  the  first,  and  directed  Major 
General  Scott  to  gain  and  turn  the  right  flank  of 
the  savages,  with  the  whole  of  the  mounted  volun 
teers  by  a  circuitous  route.  At  the  same  time 
I  ordered  the  front  line  to  advance  and  charge 
with  trailed  arms,  and  rouse  the  Indians  from  their 
covert  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and  when  up 
to  deliver  a  close  and  well  directed  fire  on  their 
backs,  followed  by  a  brisk  charge  so  as  not  to  give 
them  time  to  load  again,  or  to  form  their  lines. — 
I  also  ordered  Capt.  M.  Campbell,  who  command 
ed  the  legionary  cavalry,  to  turn  the  left  flank  of 
the  enemy  next  the  river,  and  which  afforded  a  fa 
vorable  field  for  that  corps  to  act  in.  All  these 
orders  were  obeyed  with  spirit  and  promptitude  ; 
but  such  was  the  impetuosity  of  the  charge  by  the 
first  line  of  infantry,  that  the  Indians  and  Can- 
dian  militia  and  volunteers  were  drove  from  all  their 
coverts  in  so  short  a  time,  that  although  every  pos 
sible  exertion  was  used  by  the  officers  of  the  se- 


168 


INDIAN  \TAliS. 


cond  line  of  the  legion,  and  by  Gens.  Scott,  Wood 
and  Barabee,  of  the  mounted  volunteers,  to  gain 
their  proper  positions,  but  part  of  each  could  get  up 
in  season  to  participate  in  the  action,  the  enemy  being 
drove  in  the  course  of  one  hour  more  than  two  miles 
through  the  thick  woods  already  mentioned,  by  less 
than  one  half  their  number. 

c  From  every  account  the  enemy  amounted  to 
£000  combatants.  The  troops  actually  engaged 
against  them  were  short  of  900.  This  horde  of 
savages,  with  their  allies,  abandoned  themselves 
to  flight  and  dispersed  with  terror  and  dismay, 
leaving  our  victorious  army  in  full  and  quiet  pos 
session  of  the  field  of  battle,  which  terminated  un 
der  the  influence  of  the  guns  of  the  British  gar 
rison. 

"The  bravery  and  conduct  of  every  officer  belong 
ing  to  the  army.,from  the  generals  down  to  the  ensigns,, 
merit  my  approbation, 

"  Lieut.  Covington.  upon  whom  the  command 
of  the  cavalry  devolved,  (Capt.  Campbell  being 
killed)  cut  down  two  savages  with  his  own  hand, 
and  Lieut.  Webb  one,  in  turning  the  enemy's 
left  flank. 

<c  The  wounds  received  by  Captains  Slough, 
Prior,  Van  Renselaer  and  Rawlins,  and  Lieuts. 
M'Kenny  and  Smith,  bear  honorable  testimony  of 
their  bravery  and  conduct.  In  fact  every  officer 
and  soldier  who  had  an  opportunity  to  come  into 
action,  displayed  that  true  bravery  which  always 
ensure  success.  And  here  permit  me  to  declare, 
that  I  have  never  discovered  more  true  spirit  and 
anxiety  for  action  than  appeared  to  pervade  the 
whole  of  the  mounted  volunteers  ;  and  I  am  well 
persuaded,  that,  had  the  enemy  maintained  their 
favourite  ground  for  one  half  hour  longer,  they 
would  have  most  severely  felt  the  prowess  of  that 
corps. 

"But  whilst  I  pay  this  just  tribute  to  the  living, 


INDIAN    WARS.  169 

I  must  not  neglect  the  gallant  dead,  among  whom 
we  have  to  lament  the  early  death  of  those  worthy 
and  brave  officers,  Capt.  Campbell  and  Lieut. 
Towles,  who  fell  in  the  first  charge. 

"  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  more  than  double 
to  that  of  the  federal  army.  The  woods  were 
strewed  for  a  considerable  distance  with  dead  bo 
dies  of-  Indians  and  their  white  auxiliaries,  the  lat 
ter  armed  with  British  muskets  and  bayonets.  We 
remained  three  days  and  nights  on  the  banks  of 
the  Miami,  in  front  of  the  field  of  battle,  during 
which  time  all  the  houses  and  cornfields  were  con 
sumed  and  destroyed  for  a  considerable  distance  a- 
bove  and  below  the  garrison,  among  which  were 
the  houses,  stores  and  property  of  Col.  M'Kee,  the 
British  Indian  agent  and  principal  stimulator  of 
the  war  now  existing  between  the  United  States  and 
the  savages. 

cf  The  army  returned  to  head  quarters  on  the 
27th,  by  easy  marches,  laying  waste  the  villages 
and  cornfields  for  about  fifty  miles  on  each  of  the 
Miamis.  It  is  not  improbable  but  that  the  enemy 
may  make  one  desperate  effort  against  the  army, 
as  it  is  said  a  reinforcement  was  hourly  expected 
at  fort  Miamis  from  Niagara,  as  well  as  numerous 
tribes  of  Indians  living  on  the  margins  and  islands 
of'  the  lakes.  This  is  an  event  rather  to  be  wished 
for  than  dreaded,  whilst  the  army  remains  in 
force,  their  numbers  will  only  tend  to  confuse  the 
savages,  and  the  victory  will  be  the  more  complete 
and  decisive,  and  which  may  eventually  insure  a  per 
manent  and  happy  peace. 

"  The  following  is  a  return  of  the  killed,  wound 
ed  and  missing  of  the  federal  army,  in  the  late  ac 
tion,  to  wit : 

"  Killed,  1  Captain,  1  Lieut.  3  Sergeants,  28 
privates.  Total  33. 

"Wounded,  4  Captains,  2  Lieutenants,  1  Ensign, 
4  Sergeants,  3  Corporals,  2  Musicians,  S5  privates. 
Total  100. 


170  INDIAN     WARS. 

"I  have  the  honour  to  be,  your  most  obedient  and 
very  humble  servant. 

"ANTHONY  WAYNE. 

"To  the  Secretary  of  War." 

The  following  circumstances  which  took  place 
previous  to,  and  during  Gen.  Wayne's  engagement, 
are  worthy  of  record. 

At  the  instant  Capt.  Campbell  was  attempting  to 
turn  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy,  three  of  them  plung 
ed  into  the  river.  Two  friendly  negroes  bein  gon 
the  opposite  side,  and  observing  the  Indians  making 
for  the  shore,  they  placed  themselves  on  the  bank 
behind  a  log,  and  as  soon  as  the  Indians  approach 
ed  within  shot,  one  of  the  negroes  fired  and  killed 
one  of  the  Indians,  the  other  two  got  hold  of 
him  to  drag  him  out,  when  the  other  negro  fired 
and  killed  another  ;  the  remaining  Indian  got  hold 
of  both  the  dead  to  pull  them  ashore,  when  the  negro 
who  killed  the  first  having  again  re-loaded,  fired 
and  killed  the  third,  and  they  all  floated  down 
the  river. 

Another  circumstance  is  also  related,  viz.  A 
soldier,  soon  after  the  conclusion  of  the  ac 
tion,  proceeding  some  distance  from  the  camp, 
met  an  Indian  ;  they  attacked  each  other,  the  sol 
dier  with  his  bayonet,  and  the  Indian  with  his 
tomahawk.  Some  of  the  soldiers  passing  by  that 
way  two  days  after,  found  them  both  dead,  the 
soldier  with  his  bayonet  in  the  body  of  the  Indian, 
and  the  Indian  with  his  tomahawk  in  the  soldier's 
head. 

The  following  circumstances  took  place  previous 
to  the  action  :  A  Mr.  Wells,  who,  when  very 
young,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians;  and  had 
resided  several  years  among  them,  had  made 
his  escape  and  was  employed  by  General  Wayne  as 
a  spy.  The  day  before  the  action  he  was  taken 
by  the  Indians,  who  determined  to  put  him  to 
death.  Finding  it  impossible  to  escape,  he  informed 


INDIAN    WARS.  171 

them  that  Gen.  Wayne  had  not  500  men  under  his 
command,  and  did  not  expect  an  attack.  On  hearing 
this,  the  Indians  attacked  Gen.  Wayne  with  a  confi 
dence  inspired  by  their  supposed  superiority  of  num 
bers  and  were  repulsed  as  before  mentioned.  After 
the  action,  Major  Campbell,  in  whose  custody  the 
Indians  had  left  Wells,  inquired  his  motives  for  de 
ceiving  them  ;  he  answered,  "  for  the  good  of  my 
country."  For  this  heroic  action  he  was  unfeelingly 
delivered  to  the  Indians,  in  whose  hands  it  is  supposed 
he  experienced  every  torture  that  savage  barbarity 
could  invent  or  inflict.  The  circumstances  respect 
ing  Mr.  Wells  were  related  by  a  British  drummer, 
who  deserted  from  the  fort  to  Gen.  Wayne. 

A  council  of  Indians  was  held  a  few  days  after  their 
defeat  by  Gen.  Wayne,  in  which  British  agents  en 
deavoured  to  persuade  them  to  risk  another  action  ; 
but  this  they  refused  to  do,  expressing  a  willingness 
to  bury  the  bloody  hatchet  and  return  to  their  homes. 
Their  loss  they  declared  to  be  200,  and  that  their 
whole  force  at  the  commencement  of  the  action  a- 
mounted  to  1500  Indians  and  80  Canadians.  The 
body  of  the  collector  of  Niagara  was  found  among 
the  slain. 

'But  so  long  as  the  savages  are  furnished  with  all  the 
necessary  warlike  stores,  by  foreign  emisaries  and 
traders  at  Detroit,  we  have  no  reason  to  suppose  that 
they  will  be  much  disposed  to  maintain  a  long  peace 
with  the  Americans. 

The  latter  ought  certainly  to  take  immediate  pos 
session  of  posts  that  were  ceded  to  them  more  than 
eight  years  since.  Until  this  is  done  the  frontiers  of 
the  Western  States  cannot  rest  in  security,  although 
formidable  armies  may  be  sent  against  the  Indians  ; 
indeed  so  long  as  these  garrisons  afford  them  an  as- 
sylum  and  succour  an  all  occasions. 


CHAP.    XIII. 

cov.  HARRISON'S  ENGAGEMENT  WITH  THE 

SAVAGES    ON    THE    WABASH. 

We  should  have  been  extremely  happy  to  have 
closed  the  list  of  savage  barbarities  with  the  last 
chapter  ;  but,  after  a  cessation  of  hostilities  on  their 
part  of  more  than  16  years  ;  we  find  them  once  more 
collecting  in  a  formidable  body  on  our  frontiers, 
and  (instigated  by  a  blood-thirsty  savage  of  the 
Shawanoe  tribe,  termed  "  the  Prophet,"  commen 
cing  an  unprovoked  attack  on  the  American  troops 
stationed  thereon. 

The  conduct  of  the  Wabash  Indians  becoming 
suspicious  to  our  government,  in  consequence  of 
their  many  thievish  excursions  and  hasty  prepara 
tions  for  an  offensive  attack,  Gov.  Harrison,  with 
2000  men,  (350  regulars  and  the  remainder  mili 
tia)  were  ordered  to  proceed  from  the  neighbour 
hood  of  Vincennes  to  the  line,  and  demand  of  the 
Prophet  the  object  of  his  real  intentions.  Tfoe 
troops  commenced  their  march  on  the  26th  Sep 
tember,  and  nothing  important  occurred  until  their 
arrival  on  the  line,  where  they  remained  near  a 
month,  and  built  a  strong  fort,  which  in  honour  to 
the  commander  in  chief,  was  called  fort  Harrison. 
The  Indians  in  a  friendly  manner  almost  every  day 
visited  the  camp,  and  held  councils  with  the  Gov 
ernor,  but  would  not  accede  to  his  terms^  which 
were,  that  their  leader  (the  Prophet)  should  give 
up  the  property  stolen  from  the  Americans  ;  and 
send  all  their  warriors  to  their  different  tribes  ;  the 
Governor  therefore  determined  on  attacking 
them.  On  the  29th  October,  1811,  the  troops 
left  fort  Harrison  and  took  up  their  line  of  march 
for  the  Prophet's  town,  where  they  arrived  on  the 
6th  November.  When  within  about  half  a  mile 


INDIAN    WARS.  i  73 

the  town,  the  troops  formed  the  line  of  battle, 
which  the  Indians  perceiving,  sent  three  of  their 
chiefs  with  a  flag  of  truce,  begging  that  their  lives 
might  be  saved,  pledging  themselves  that  they  would 
not  take  up  the  tomakawk  against  the  troops,  and  that 
if  they  would  encamp  near  the  town,  in  the  morn 
ing  they  would  come  to  such  terms  as  the  governor* 
should  propose.  This  lulled  the  troops  into  security, 
and  they  encamped  about  half  a  mile  back  of  the 
town.  Fifteen  minutes  before  five  o5elock  the  next 
morning,  the  savages  commenced  a  furious  attack  on 
the  left  flank  of  the  troops,  but  not  a  single  gun  was 
fired  by  the  sentinels  or  the  guard  in  that  direction, 
nor  did  they  make  the  least  resistance,  but  abandoned 
their  office  and  fled  into  camp  ;  and  the  first  notice 
which  the  troops  of  that  flank  had  of  the  danger  was 
from  the  yells  of  the  savages  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  line  ;  but  even  under  those  circumstances,  the 
men  were  not  wanting  to  themselves  or  to  the  occa 
sion.  Such  of  them  as  were  awake,  or  were  easily 
awakened,  seized  their  arms  and  took  their  stations  ; 
others  which  were  more  tardy,  had  to  contend  with 
the  enemy  in  the  doors  of  their  tents.  The  storm 
first  fell  upon  Captain  Barton's  company  of  the  4th. 
U.  S.  regiment,  and  Captain  Geiger's  company  of 
mounted  riflemen,  which  formed  the  left  angle  of  the 
rear  line.  The  fire  upon  these  was  excessively  se 
vere,  and  they  suffered  considerably  before  relief 
could  be  brought  to  them.  Some  few  Indians  pass 
ed  into  the  encampment  near  the  angle,  and  one  or 
two  penetrated  to  some  distance  before  they  were 
killed. 

Under  all  these  discouraging  circumstances,  the 
troops  (nineteen  twentieths  of  whom  had  never  been 
in  action  before)  behaved  in  a  manner  that  can  never 
be  too  much  applauded.  They  took  their  places 
without  noise  and  with  less  confusion  than  could  have 
been  expected  from  veterans  placed  in  a  similar  situ- 
tion.  As  soon  as  the  governor  could  mount  his  horse 
he  rode  to  the  angle  that  was  attacked.  He  found 
23 


174  INDIAN   WARS, 

that  Barton's  company  had  suffered  severely,  and  the 
left  of  Gciger's  entirely  broken.  He  immediately  or 
dered  Cook's  company  and  the  late  Captain  Went- 
worth's,  under  Lieut.  Peters,  to  be  brought  up  from 
the  centre  of  the  rear  line,  where  the  ground  was 
much  more  defensible,  and  formed  across  the  angle 
in  support  of  Barton  and  Geiger's.  His  attention 
was  there  engaged  by  a  heavy  firing  upon  the  left  of 
the  front  line,  where  were  stationed  the  small  compa 
ny  of  the  United  States  riflemen  (then  however  arm 
ed  with  muskets)  and  the  companies  of  Baen,  Snell- 
ing  and  Prescott,  of  the  4th  regiment.  He  found  Ma 
jor  Daviess  forming  the  dragoons  in  the  rear  of  those 
companies,  and  understanding  that  the  heaviest  part 
of  the  enemy's  fire  proceeded  from  some  trees  about 
}5  or  20  paces  in  front  of  those  companies,  he  direct 
ed  the  Major  to  dislodge  them  with  a  part  of  the 
Dragoons.  Unfortunately  the  Major's  gallantry  de 
termined  him  to  execute  the  order  with  a  smaller 
force  than  was  sufficient,  which  enabled  the  enemy  to 
avoid  him  in  front  and  attack  his  flanks.  The  Major 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  his  party  driven  back. 
The  Indians  were  however  immediately  and  gallantly 
disloged  from  their  advantageous  position  by  Capt. 
Snelling  at  the  head  of  his  company.  In  the  course 
of  a  few  minutes  after  the  commencement  of  the  at 
tack,  the  fire  extended  along  the  left  flank  and  part 
of  the  rear  line.  Upcn  Spencer's  mounted  riflemen, 
and  the  right  of  Warwick's  company,  which  was 
posted  on  the  right  of  the  rear  line,  it  was  excessively 
severe.  Capt.  Spencer  and  his  first  and  second  Lieu 
tenants  were  killed,  and  Capt,  Warwick  was  mortally 
"Wounded.  These  companies,  however,  still  bravely 
maintained  their  posts,  but  Spencer  had  suffered  so 
severely,  and  having  oiiginally  too  much  ground  to 
occupy,  the  commander  reinforced  him  with  Robb's 
company  of  riflemen  which  had  been  driven.,  or  by 
mistake  ordered  from  their  position  on  the  left  flank 
towards  the  centre  of  the  camp,  and  filled  the  va 
cancy  that  had  been  occupied  by  Robb,  with  Pres- 


INDIAN   WARS.  175 

cott's  company  of  the  4th  United  States  rsgiraent. 
His  great  object  was  to  keep  the  lines  entire,  to  pre 
vent  the  enemy  from  breaking  into  the  camp  until 
day-light,  which  should  enable  them  to  make  a  gen 
eral  and  effectual  charge.  With- this  view  he  had 
reinforced  every  part  of  the  line  that  had  suffered 
much  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  approach  of  morning  dis 
covered  itself,  he  withdrew  from  the  front  line,  Sneli- 
ing,  Poesy  (under  Lieut.  AlbrightJ  and  Scott's  com 
panies,  and  from  the  rear  line  Wilson  and  Norris's 
companies,  and  drew  them  upon  the  left  flank  ;  at 
the  same  time  ordered  Cook  and  Baen's  companies, 
the  former  from  the  rear  and  the  latter  from  the  front 
line,  to  reinforce  the  right  flank  ;  foreseeing  that  at 
these  points  the  enemy  would  make  their  last  efforts. 
Major  Wells,  who  commanded  on  the  left  flank,  not 
knowing  his  intentions  precisely,  had  taken  the  com 
mand  of  these  companies,  had  charged  the  enemy  be 
fore  he  had  formed  the  body  of  dragoons,  with  which 
he  meant  to  support  the  infantry  ;  a  small  detachment 
of  these  were  ready,  and  proved  amply  sufficient  for 
the  purpose  ;  the  Indians  were  thrown  into  confu 
sion  and  driven  by  the  infantry  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet,  and  the  dragoons  pursued  and  forced  them 
into  a  marsh,  where  they  could  not  be  followed. 
Capt.  Cook  and  Lieut.  Larrabee  had  marched  their 
companies  to  the  right  flank,  had  formed  them  under 
the  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  being  then  joined  by  the 
riflemen  of  that  flank,  they  charged  the  Indians,  kill 
ed  a  number,  and  put  the  rest  to  a  precipitate  flight. 

The  action  was  maintained  with  the  greatest  obsti 
nacy  and  perseverence  by  both  parties.  The  Indians 
manifested  a  ferocity  quite  uncommon  even  with  them. 
To  their  savage  fury  our  troops  opposed  that  cool  and 
deliberate  valour  which  is  characteristic  of  the  Chris 
tian  soldier. 

Capt.  Spencer  was  wounded  in  the  head.  He  ex 
horted  his  men  to  fight  valiently.  He  was  shot 
through  both  thighs,  and  fell,  still  continuing  to  en 
courage  them.  He  was  raised  up,  and  received  a 
ball  through  his  body,  which  put  an  immediate  end  to 


176  INDIAN     WARS. 

his  existence.  Captain  Warwick  was  shot  immedi 
ately  through  the  body.  Being  taken  to  the  surgery 
to  be  dressed  as  soon  as  it  was  over  (being  a  man  of 
great  bodily  vigour  and  still  able  to  walk)  he  insisted 
upon  going  back  to  head  his  company,  although  it 
was  evident  that  he  had  but  a  few  hours  to  live. 

There  were  about  179  of  the  troops  killed  and 
wounded.  It  is  supposed  the  enemy  were  about 
700  strong,  and  that  they  had  lost  about  400  in  the  en 
gagement.  The  day  succeeding  the  action,  the  troops 
set  fire  to  their  town,  and  destroyed  every  thing  valu 
able,  and  the  morning  ensuing  struck  their  tents  and 
commenced  their  march  for  Vincennes,  where  they 
arrived  in  safety  after  a  most  fatiguing  campaign  of  55 
days,  and  marching  the  distance  of  320  miles. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  of 
the  army  in  the  engagement. 

Killed,  1  Aid-de-camp,  1  Captain,  2  Subalterns,  1 
Sergeant,  2  Corporals,  30  privates. 

Wounded,  since  dead,  1  Major,  2  Captains,  22  pri 
vates, 

Wounded,  2  Lieut.  Colonels,  1  Surgeon's  mate,  2 
Captains,  3  Subalterns,  9  Sergeants,  5  Corporals,  1 
Musician,  102  privates. 

Total  killed  and  wounded,  1S8. 

Names  of  Officers  killed  and  wounded,  as  per  general 

return. 

General  Staff;  Killed,  Col.  Abraham  Owens,  Aid 
de-Camp  to  the  Commander  in  Chief. 

Field  and  Staff  :  Wounded,  Lieut.  Col.  Joseph 
Bartholomews,  commanding  Indiana  militia  ;  Lieut. 
Col.  Luke  Decker,  of  do  ;  Major  Joseph  H.  Daviess 
since  dead,  commanding  a  squadron  of  dragoons  ;  Dr. 
Edward  Scull,  of  the  Indiana  militia  ;  Adjutant  James 
Hunter,  of  mounted  riflemen. 

United  States  Infantry  including  the  late  Captain 
Whitney's  rifle  company  :  Wounded  Capt.  W.  C. 
Baen,  acting  Major,  since  dead  ;  Lieut.  George  P. 
Peters,  Lieut  Geo.  Gooding,  Ensign  Henry  Burch- 
stead. 


INDIA!*    WARS.  177 

Colonel  Decker's  detachment  of  Indiana  militia  : 
Wounded,  Captain  Jacob  Warrick,  since  dead. 

Major  Redman's  detachment  of  Indiana  militia  : 
Wounded,  Captain  John  Norris. 

Major  Wells's  detachment  of  mounted  riflemen  : 
Wounded,  Captain  Frederick  Guiger, 

Captain  Spencer's  company,  including  Lieut.  Ber 
ry's  detachment  of  mounted  riflemen  :  Killed,  Capt. 
Spier  Spencer  ;  First  Lieut.  Richard  M^Manan,  Lt 
Thomas  Berry. 


Copy  of  a    letter   from   Gov,  Harrison  to  the  Hon. 
Secretary  of  War,  dated 

Vincennes,  Dee.  14,  1811. 

Sir, — I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  that  two 
principal  Chiefs  of  the  Kickapoo  of  the  prairie  arrived 
here  bearing  a  flag,  on  the  evening  before  last.  They 
informed  that  they  came  in  consequence  of  a  message 
from  the  Chief  of  that  part  of  the  Kickapoos  which 
had  joined  the  Prophet,  requiring  them  to  do  so,  and 
that  the  said  chief  is  to  be  here  in  a  day  or  two.  The 
account  which  they  gave  of  the  late  confederacy  un 
der  the  prophet  is  as  follows. 

"  The  Prophet  with  his  Showanoes  is  at  a  small 
Huron  village  about  12  miles  from  his  former  resi 
dence,  on  this  side  the  Wabash,  where  also  are  12 
or  15  Hurons.  The  Kickapoos  are  encamped  near 
the  Tippicanoe.  The  Powtawsiomies  have  scattered 
and  gone  to  different  villages  of  that  tribe.  The 
Winebagoes  had  all  set  out  on  their  return  to  their 
own  country,  excepting  one  chief  and  nine  men  who 
remained  at  their  formed  village.  The  latter  had  at 
tended  Tecumseh  in  his  tour  to  the  southward,  and 
had  only  returned  to  the  Prophet's  town  the  day  be 
fore  the  action.  The  Prophet  had  sent  a  message  to 
the  Kickapoos  of  the  praire,  to  request  that  he  might 
be  permitted  to  retire  to  their  town.  This  was  possi- 
tively  refused,  and  a  warning  sent  to  him  not  to  come 


178 


INDIAN    WARS. 


there.  He  then  sent  to  request  that  four  of  his  men 
might  attend  the  Kickapoo  chief  here.  This  was  al 
so  refused. 

"  These  chiefs  say  on  the  whole,  that  all  the  tribes 
who  lost  warriors  in  the  late  action  attribute  their 
misfortunes  to  the  Prophet  alone  ;  that  they  constantly 
reproach  him  with  their  misfortunes,  and  threaten 
him  witlf  death  ;  that  they  are  all  desirous  of  making 
their  peace  with  the  United  States;  that  the  Prophet;s 
followers  were  fully  impressed  with  a  belief  that  they 
could  defeat  as  with  ease  ;  that  it  was  their  intention 
to  have  attacked  us  at  Fort  Harrison  if  we  had  gone 
higher  ;  that  the  attack  made  on  our  sentinels  at  fort 
Harrison  was  intended  to  shut  the  door  against  the 
accommodation  ;  that  the  Winnebagoes  had  40  war 
riors  killed  in  the  action,  and  the  Kickapoos  11,  and 
10  wounded  ;  that  they  have  never  heard  how  m?.ny 
Pottawatomies  and  other  tribes  were  killed  ;  that  the 
Pottawatomie  chief  left  by  me  on  the  battle  ground  is 
since  dead  of  his  wounds,  but  that  he  faithfully  deliv 
ered  my  speech  to  the  ditferent  tribes,  and  warmly 
urged  them  to  abandon  the  Prophet  and  submit  to  my 
terms. 

t;  I  cannot  say,  Sir,  how  much  of  the  above  may  be 
depended  on.  I  believe,  however  that  the  statement 
made  by  the  chief  is  generally  correct,  particularly 
with  regard  to  the  present  disposition  of  the  Indians. 
It.  is  certain  that  our  frontiers  have  never  enjoyed 
more  profound  tranquillity  than  at  this  time.  Before 
the  expedition  not  a  fortnight  passed  over  without 
some  vexatious  depredation  being  committed.  The 
Kickapoo  chiefs  certainly  tell  an  untruth,  when  they 
say  that  there  were  but  11  of  this  tribe  killed  and  10 
wounded.  It  is  impossible  to  believe  that  fewer  were 
wounded  than  killed.  They  acknowledge,  however, 
that  the  Indians  have  never  sustained  so  severe  a  de 
feat  since  their  acquaintance  with  the  white  people. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  4*c- 

WM.  HENRY  HARRISON. 

u  Hon.  Wm.  Eustis,  Secretary  of  War. 


CHAP    XIV. 


ENGAGEMENT  WITH  THE   INDIANS    DURING    THE 
LATE  WAR  WITH  GREAT  BRITAIN. 


In  the  course  of  the  late  war  which  prevailed  be 
tween  America  and  Great  Britain,  the  latter  having 
engaged  many  of  the  savages  in  her  cause.  Gen.  Har 
rison  (who  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  vol. 
unteers  and  drafted  militia  of  Ohio,  &c.)  held  a  coun 
cil  with  a  number  of  Indian  Chiefs,  who  had  profess 
ed  neutral  sentiments,  to  whom  he  made  three  propo 
sitions  ;  "  To  take  up  arms  in  behalf  of  the  United 
States — to  remove  within  the  lines  and  remain  neu 
tral — or  to  go  to  the  enefriy  and  seek  their  protec\ 
tion."  After  a  short  consultation  many  of  them  ac 
cepted  the  first,  and  made  preparations  to  accompany 
him  in  the  invasion  of  Canada.  The  hostile  Indians, 
however,  continued  to  make  inroads  into  the  settle 
ments  and  committed  frequent  barbarities. 

The  first  of  September,  1812,  a  considerable  body 
of  British  and  Indians  proceeded  from  Fort  Maiden 
to  lay  waste  the  frontiers  of  Ohio.  A  principal  object 
appears  to  have  been  the  capture  of  Fort  Wayne. 
They  burnt  several  valuable  buildings,  and  killed 
many  of  the  inhabitants  ;  among  whom  was  a  brother 
of  Gov.  Meigs. 

On  the  8th  November,  a  detachment  of  700  %men 
commanded  by  Col.  Campbell,  left  Franklinton  on  an 
expedition  against  the  Miami  Indians  residing  at  the 
head  of  the  Wabash.  On  the  17th  December,  they 
reached  one  of  their  villages,  killed  8  warriors  and 
took  36  prisoners.  They  set  fire  to  the  village,  and 
encamped  a  few  miles  therefrom.  A  little  before  the 
break  of  day,  they  were  attacked  by  the  exasperated 
savages  in  their  camp,  shouting  and  yelling  horribly, 


ISO  INDIAN   WARS. 

The  Americans  sustained  the  attack  until  day-light 
when  the  Indians  were  charged  and  dispersped  with 
the  loss  of  35  killed.  The  loss  of  the  American 
troops  was  8  killed  and  29  wounded. 

On  the  14th  January,  1812,  Col.  Lewis  was  des 
patched  to  attack  a  large  body  of  Indians  encamped 
near  the  river  Raisin.  On  the  18th  the  attack  com 
menced  ;  on  the  first  onset  the  savages  raised  their 
accustomed  yell,  but  the  noise  wras  drowned  in  the  re 
turning  shots  of  their  dauntless  assailants.  They 
advanced  boldly  to  the  charge,  and  drove  them  in  all 
directions.  On  the  first  fire  16  of  the  Indians  fell. 
About 4O were  killed.  Col.  Lewis's  party  lost  12 
killed  and  52  wounded. 

On  the  18th,  Gen.  Winchester  proceeded  with  are* 
inforcement  of  800  men  to  the  village  of  Frenchton  . 
On  the  22d  they  were  attacked  by  a  combined  force 
of  the  enemy  under  command  of  Tecumseh  and  Proc 
tor.  The  American  troops  were  in  a  moment  ready 
for  the  reception  of  the  enemy.  The  right  wing  sus 
tained  the  attack  for  about  30  minutes,  when,  over 
powered  by  numbers,  they  retreated  over  the  river, 
and  were  met  by  a  large  body  of  Indians.  The 
troops  finding  their  retreat  cut  off,  resolved  to  sell 
their  lives  as  dear  as  possible,  and  fought  with  des 
peration  ;  but  few  of  these  brave  fellows,  however  es 
caped  the  tomahawk.  The  left  wing  with  equal 
bravery  maintained  their  ground  within  their  pickets. 
The  Indians  and  regulars  made  three  different  charges 
upon  them,  but  the  troops,  with  the  most  determined 
bravery  and  presence  of  mind,  reserved  their  fire  un 
til  the  enemy  advanced  within  point  blank  shot  ;  they 
then  opened  a  most  galling  fire  upon  them, and  mowed 
down  their  ranks  until  they  were  compelled  to  retreat 
in  confusion.  The  Americans  lost  nearly  400  men  in 
killed  and  wounded  and  missing,  The  courage  of 
brave  men  was  never  more  severely  tested.  The  par 
ty  that  sought  a  retreat  at  the  commencement  of  the 
action,  were  closely  pursued,  surrounded  and  literally 
cut  to  pieces  by  the  savages.  Not  one  escaped  the 
scalping  knife. 


INDIAN    WARS.  181 

On  the  30th  of  January  Gen.  Harrison  despatched 
Capt.  Lamor,  Doct.  JVPKeenhan  and  a  Frenchman 
with  a  flag  of  truce  to  Maiden.  They  encamped 
the  first  night  near  the  rapids,  and  hoisted  the  white 
flag ;  but  this  was  not  respected.  The  Indians 
fired  upon  them  while  asleep,  killed  Lamor,  wounded 
Doctor  M'Keenhan  and  took  him  and  the  French 
man  prisoners. 

Gen.  Harrison  received  information  that  a  large 
body  of  Indians  were  collected  at  Presque  Isle,  near 
the  Miami,  on  the  9th  February,  proceeded  with  a 
detachment  to  attack  them.  The  enemy  fled  on 
the  approach  of  the  troops,  which  pursued  them  al 
most  to  the  river  Raisin,  but  without  being  enabled 
to  overtake  them.  Such  was  their  desire  to  come  up 
with  the  foe  that  they  marched  60  miles  in  J24  hours. 

The  hostile  Indians  continued  to  make  inroads 
into  the  settlements  and  committed  many  murders. 
An  event  took  place,  however,  that  served  in  some 
measure  to  check  the  audacity  of  the  Indians.  As 
Col.  Ball,  with  a  small  squadron,  was  descending  the 
Sandusky,  the  foremost  of  his  party  were  fired  upon 
by  a  band  of  18  or  20  Indians,  who  had  placed 
themselves  in  ambush  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting 
the  mail  carrier.  The  colonel  instantly  charged  upon 
them  and  drove  them  from  their  hiding  place.  The 
ground  was  favorable  for  cavalry,  and  the  savages 
finding  neither  mercy  nor  the  possibility  of  escape, 
whooped  and  shouted  horribly,  and  fought  despe-^ 
rately,  till  they  were  all  to  a  man  cut  to  pieces.  Col. 
Ball  was  twice  dismounted,  and  opposed  in  personal 
contest  to  an  Indian  of  gigantic  stature.  It  was  a 
desperate  and  doubtful  struggle ;  life  was  at  stake  ; 
both  exerted  to  the  utmost.  An  officer  rode  up  and 
rescued  the  colonel  by  shooting  the  Indian  through 
the  head.  Not  an  Indian  after  this  ventured  to  cross 
the  Sandusky  in  quest  of  plunder. 

On  the  first  day  of  August  Gen.  Proctor  appeared 
with  500  regulars   and    about  800  Indians  of  the 
most  ferocious  kind,  before  fort  Stephenson,  20  miles 
24 


182  INDIAN   WARS, 

above  the  mouth  of  the  river  Sandusky.  There 
were  not  more  than  133  effective  men  in  the  garri 
son,  and  the  works  covered  one  acre  of  the  ground. 
The  object  of  the  enemy  was  to  make  such  a  dispo 
sition  of  his  forces  as  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the 
garrison,  provided  they  should  attempt  it.  A  messen 
ger  was  then  sent  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the 
fort.  He  was  met  by  Ensign  Shipp,  to  whom  the 
messenger  observed  that  General  Proctor  had  a  con 
siderable  body  of  regular  troops,  and  a  great  many 
Indians,  whom  it  was  impossible  to  control,  and  if 
the  fort  was  taken  by  force,  he  must  expect  that  the 
mildest  instruments  made  use  of  would  be  the  toma 
hawk  and  scalping  knife  !  Shipp  replied,  that  it  was 
the  commander's  intention  to  defend  the  garrison  or 
be  buried  in  it,  and  that  they  might  do  their  worst. 
The  messenger  startled  at  the  reply  of  Shipp,  again 
addressed  him  :  c*  You  are  a  fine  young  man,  I  pity 
your  situation,  for  God's  sake  surrender,  and  prevent 
the  dreadful  slaughter  which  must  inevitably  follow 
resistance!"  The  gallant  Shipp  turned  from  him 
with  indignation,  and  was  immediately  seized  by  a 
frightful  looking  savage,  who  attempted  to  wrest  his 
sword  from  him,  but  the  Ensign  was  fortunately  too 
quick  for  him,  and  buried  the  blade  to  the  hilt  in  his 
body,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  the  fort  in  safety. 
The  attack  now  commenced.  About  4  P.  M.  all  the 
enemy's  guns  were  concentrated  against  the  north 
western  angle  of  the  fort,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
a  breach.  To  counteract  the  effect  of  their  fire,  the 
commander  caused  that  point  to  be  strengthened  by 
means  of  bags  of  flour,  sand,  and  other  materials,  in 
such  manner  that  the  balls  of  the  enemy  did  but  lit 
tle  injury.  But  the  enemy  supposed  that  their  fire 
had  sufficienty  shattered  the  pickets,  advanced  to 
the  number  of  600  to  storm  the  place;  the  Indians 
shouting  in  their  usual  manner.  As  soon  as  the  ditch 
was  pretty  well  filled  with  the  copper-coloured  assail 
ants,  the  commander  of  the  fort  ordered  a  six  pound 
er,  which  had  been  masked  in  the  block-house,  to  be 


INDIAN  WARS.  183 

discharged.  It  had  been  loaded  with  a  double 
charge  of  musket  balls  and  slugs.  The  piece  com 
pletely  raked  the  ditch  from  end  to  end.  The  yell 
of  the  savages  was  at  this  instant  horrible.  The 
first  fire  levelled  the  one  half  in  death  ;  the  second 
and  third  either  killed  or  wounded  all  except  eleven, 
who  were  covered  by  the  dead  bodies.  The  Amer 
icans  had  but  one  killed  and  seven  slightly  wounded. 
Early  the  ensuing  morning  the  few  regulars  arid  In 
dians  that  survived,  retreated  down  the  river,  aban 
doning  all  their  baggage. 

While  Proctor  was  investing  Fort  Stephenson, 
Tecumseh,  with  a  band  of  2000  warriors  and  British 
troops,  approached  fort  Meigs,  but  was  soon  driven 
therefrom. 

It  was  the  general  opinion  of  the  inhabitants  that 
there  were  1500  Indian  warriors  under  Marpot  and 
Split-Log  (Indian  chiefs)  lurking  in  the  woods  be 
tween  the  rivers  Rouge  and  Huron  of  Lake  St.  Clair. 

On  the  2d  October  arrangements  .were  made  for 
pursuing  the  retreating  enemy  up  the  Thames.  The 
army  was  put  in  motion  on  the  morning  of  the  4th. 
Gen.  Harrison  accompanied  Col.  Johnson,  and  was 
followed  by  Gov.  Shelby  with  the  Infantry.  Having 
passed  the  ground  where  the  enemy  had  encamped 
the  night  before,  the  General  directed  the  advance 
of  Col.  Johnson's  regiment  to  accelerate  their  march, 
for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  distance  of  the 
enemy. 

The  troops  had  now  advanced  within  three  miles  of 
the  Moravian  town,  and  within  one  mile  of  the  enemy. 
Across  a  narrow  strip  of  land  near  an  Indian  village, 
the  enemy  were  drawn  up  in  a  line  of  battle  to  pre 
vent  the  advance  of  the  American  troops.  The 
British  troops  amounted  to  600  ;  the  Indians  to  more 
than  1200.  About  150  regulars,  under  Col,  Ball, 
were  ordered  to  advance  and  amuse  the  enemy, 
and  should  a  favourable  opportunity  present,  to  seize 
his  cannon.  A  small  party  of  friendly  Indians  were 
directed  to  move  under  the  bank.  The  regiment  of 
Col.  Johnson  was  drawn  up  in  close  column,  with  its 


184  INDIAN  WARS. 

right  a  few  yards  distant  from  the  road.  General 
Desha's  division  covered  the  left  of  Johnson's  regi 
ment.  Gen.  Cass  and  Commodore  Perry  volunteer 
ed  as  aids  to  Gen.  Harrison. 

The  army  advanced  till  the  mounted  men  received 
the  fire  of  the  enemy,  at  the  distance  of  about  200 
yards.  The  charge  was  now  beat,  and  in  an  instant 
1000  cavalry  were  put  in  motion  ;  the  right,  led  on  by 
Col.  Johnson,  broke  through  the  enemy's  line  and 
formed  in  the  rear.  The  Indians  and  British  were 
appalled  at  so  unexpected  an  onset.  The  whole  was 
the  work  of  a  moment.  Indeed,  had  the  enemy 
shown  the  least  disposition  to  resist,  the  greater  part 
would  have  been  put  to  the  sword.  Never  was  ter 
ror  more  strongly  depicted  in  the  countenance  of  men 
than  in  those  of  the  affrighted  savages. 

On  the  left  the  contest  was  much  more  serious. 
Col.  Johnson,  whose  regiment  was  there  stationed, 
received  a  galling  fire  from  the  Indians,  who  seemed 
not  disposed  to  give  ground.  The  brave  Colonel 
gallantly  led  his  men  into  the  midst  of  them,  and  was 
personally  attacked  by  a  chief,  whom  he  dispatched 
with  his  cutlass  at  the  moment  the  former  was  aiming 
a  blow  at  him  with  his  tomahawk.  The  savages,  find 
ing  the  fire  of  the  troops  too  warm  for  them,  fled  across 
the  hills  and  attempted  to  seek  shelter  in  a  piece  of 
woods  on  the  left,  where  they  were  closely  pursued 
by  the  cavalry.  It  was  at  the  margin  of  the  wood  that 
Tecumseh  stationed  himself,  armed  with  a  spear, 
tomahawk,  &,c.  endeavouring  to  rally  and  persuade 
his  men  to  return  to  the  attack.  At  this  point  a 
considerable  body  of  Indians  had  collected  ;  yet,  re 
gardless  of  danger,  the  heroic  Johnson  rushed  into 
the  midst  of  them  ;  indeed  so  thick  were  they  at  this 
moment  that  they  could  have  easily  reached  him 
with  their  arrows.  He  rode  a  white  horse,  and  was 
pointed  out  by  Tecumseh  as  an  officer  of  rank.  His 
horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  his  clothes,  saddle 
and  person  pierced  with  bullets.  At  the  moment  his 
horse  fell,  Tecumseh  rushed  towards  him  with  an  up 
lifted  tomahawk,  to  give  the  fatal  blow  ;  but  iri  this 


INDIAN  WARS.  185 

perilous  predicament  his  presence  of  mind  did  not 
forsake  him.  He  drew  a  pistol  from  his  holster  and 
laid  this  distinguished  warrior  dead  at  his  feet.  He 
could  do  no  more.  The  many  wounds  that  he  had 
received  and  the  loss  of  blood  deprived  him  of 
strength  to  stand.  He  received  five  shots,  three  in 
the  right  thigh,  and  two  in  the  left  arm.  Fortunate 
ly  for  him,  at  the  moment  of  Tecumseh's  fall,  the 
saVages  gave  way,  which  saved  him  from  their  toma 
hawks.  No  less  than  6  of  Col.  Johnson's  men  and 
22  Indians  fell  within  25  yards  of  the  spot  where 
Tecumseh  was  killed.  (See  Frontispiece.) 

The  Indians  continued  a  brisk  fire  from  the  margin 
of  the  wood  until  a  fresh  regiment  was  called  into 
action  to  oppose  them.  A  company  of  cavalry  hav 
ing  crossed  the  hills  and  gained  the  rear  of  the  sava 
ges,  the  route  became  general.  The  enemy  fought 
bravely,  and  sustained  a  heavy  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded.  The  death  of  their  leader  Tecumseh, 
was  an  irreparable  loss  to  them. 

Tecumseh  was  the  most  extraordinary  Indian  that 
has  ever  appeared  in  history.  He  was  by  birth  a 
Shawanese,  and  would  have  been  a  great  man  in  any 
age  or  nation.  Independent  of  the  most  consummate 
courage  and  skill  as  a  warrior,  and  the  character 
istic  acuteness  of  his  race,  he  was  endowned  by  na^ 
ture  with  the  attributes  of  mind  necessary  for  great 
political  combinations.  His  acute  understanding,  very 
early  in  life,  informed  him  that  his  countrymen  had  lost 
their  importance  :  that  they  were  gradually  yielding 
to  the  whites,  who  were  acquiring  an  imposing  in 
fluence  over  them.  Instigated  by  these  considera 
tions,  and,  perhaps,  by  his  natural  ferosity  and  attach? 
ment  to  war,  he  became  a  decided  enemy  to  the 
whites,  and  imbibed  an  invincible  determination  (he 
surrendered  it  with  his  life)  to  regain  for  his  country 
the  proud  independence  he  supposed  she  had  lost. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  was  foremost  in  every  act 
of  hostility  committed  against  those  he  conceived  the 
oppressors  of  his  countrymen,  and  was  equally  re* 


186  INDIAN    WARS. 

raarkable  for  intrepidity  as  skill,  in  many  combats 
that  took  place  under  his  banner.  Aware,  at  length 
of  the  extent,  number  and  power  of  the  United 
States,  he  became  fully  convinced  of  the  futility  of 
any  single  nation  of  red  men  attempting  to  cope  with 
them.  He  formed,  therefore,  the  grand  scheme  of 
uniting  all  the  tribes  east  of  the  Mississippi  into 
hostility  against  the  United  States.  This  was  a  field 
worth  of  his  great  and  enterprizing  genius.  He  com 
menced  in  the  year  1809  ;  and  in  the  execution  of 
his  project  he  displayed  an  unequalled  adroitness, 
eloquence  and  courage.  He  insinuated  himself  into 
every  tribe  from  Michilimackinack  to  Georgia,  and 
was  invariably  successful  in  his  attempts  to  bring 
them  over  to  his  views.  He  played  upon  all  their 
feelings,  but  principally  upon  their  superstition,  and 
sometimes  assumed  the  character  of  a  prophet,  and 
carried  with  him  &  red  stick,  to  which  he  attached 
certain  mystical  properties,  and  the  acceptance  of 
which  was  considered  as  the  joining  of  his  party  ; 
hence  the  name  of  Red  Sticks,  applied  to  all  Indians 
hostile  to  the  United  States.  Unfortunately  for  Te- 
cumseh,  but  happily  for  the  United  States,  was  it, 
that  before  his  plan  had  become  matured,  before  his 
arrangements  for  general  hostility  were  perfected, 
before  in  fact  he  had  bronght  into  the  field  any  of 
his  forces,  his  brother  made  a  premature  attack  upon 
the  forces  of  the  United  States  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Harrison,  in  the  summer  of  1811,  at  Tippeca- 
noe,  in  which  he  suffered  a  signal  defeat. 

This  disaster  marred  the  prospects  of  the  gallant 
Tecumseh  ;  his  own  soul  was  unshaken  ;  but  it  damp 
ed  the  ardour  of  his  associates  ;  and  although  many 
continued  firm  in  their  warlike  attitude,  nor  shrunk 
from  a  contest  that  had  commenced  with  defeat,all  the 
efforts  of  Tecumseh  were  unavailing  to  supply  the  links 
thus  broke  in  his  chain  of  operations.  The  war  against 
England,  declared  soon  after  this  event  by  the  Unit 
ed  States,  opened  new  views  to  the  talents  of  Te 
cumseh.  His  merits  were  duly  appreciated  by  the 


INDIAN   WARS.  187 

British  government,  and  they  made  him  a  brigadier 
general  in  their  service.  At  the  head  of  his  formida 
ble  warriors  he  more  than  once  turned  the  scale  of 
victory  against  the  Americans,  and  laid  down  his  life 
for  the  cause  he  had  espoused. 

The  day  after  the  battle,  the  American  troops 
took  possession  of  the  Moravian  town,  where  they 
found  great  quantities  of  such  provision  as  were  very 
acceptable  to  the  troops.  Among  the  trophies  of 
the  day,  captured  from  the  British,  were  six  brass 
field  pieces,  that  had  been  surrendered  by  Hull ;  on 
two  of  which  was  the  motto,  u  Surrendered  by 
Burgoyne  at  Saratoga! 5 '  The  town  was  found  desert 
ed  and  so  panic  struck  were  some  of  the  squaws  in 
their  flight,  that  they  are  said  to  have  thrown  their 
papooses  into  the  river,  to  prevent  their  being  butch 
ered  by  the  Americans.  The  Indians  who  inhabited 
this  town  had  been  very  active  in  committing  depre 
dations  upon  the  frontiers,  massacreing  the  inhabit 
ants,  &,c.  for  which  reason  the  town  was  destroyed 
by  the  troops  previous  to  their  leaving  it. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  Gen.  Harrison  to  Detroit, 
the  Ottawas;  Chippewas,  Pattawattomies,  Miamies 
and  Kickapoos,  proposed  a  suspension  of  hostilities, 
and  agreed  to  "take  hold  of  the  same  tomahawk 
with  the  Americans,  and  to  strike  all  who  were  or 
might  be  enemies  of  the  United  States."  They  of 
fered  their  women  and  children  as  hostages.  Walk- 
in- the- water,  a  distinguished  Chief,  who  had  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  late  engagement,  waited  upon 
the  General  in  person  to  implore  peace.  The  white 
flag  which -he  bore  in  his  hand  attracted  a  great 
crowd,  who  were  struck  with  admiration  at  the  firm 
ness  with  which  this  distinguished  warrior  passed 
through  the  ranks  of  the  American  troops,  whom  he 
so  gallantly  opposed  but  a  few  days  before  ;  yet  his 
adverse  fortune  was  calculated  to  depress  his  spirits 
and  produce  humility.  Almost  all  the  other  chiefs 
had  been  killed  or  had  surrendered  themselves  prison- 
ers,and  he  was  without  the  means  of  living  or  resisting. 


CHAP.  XV. 

CREEK  WAR,  MASSACRE  AT  FORT  MINS,  BATTLE 
AT  TALLUSHATCHES,  TALLEDEGA,  &C. 


The  enemy,  apparently  disposed  to  enlist  the  sav 
ages  in  the  war,  at  its  commencement,  despatched 
messengers  to  several  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  the  Mis 
sissippi  Territory,  distinguished  by  the  names  of 
Creeks,  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws,  to  persuade  them 
to  take  a  part  with  them  in  their  contest  with  the 
United  States.  The  most  friendly  relations  had 
subsisted  between  these  tribes  and  the  United  States 
for  many  years  :  and  the  latter,  dictated  by  a  gene 
rous  policy,  had  been  successful  in  their  endeavours 
to  introduce  among  them  the  improvements  of  civil 
ized  society.  But  so  ardent  is  the  propensity  of  the 
Indian  character  for  war,  that  many  were  induced  to 
commit  the  most  wanton  and  unprovoked  acts  of 
barbarity  upon  the  Americans. 

The  most  experienced  and  well  disposed  chiefs, 
aware  of  the  evils  a  war  with  the  United  States  must 
produce  upon  the  tribe,  made  use  of  their  best  en 
deavours  to  suppress  their  acts  of  cruelty  ;  but  those 
determined  on  war  were  not  disposed  to  listen  to  the 
dictates  of  discretion  or  wisdom,  and  commenced 
open  hostilities  against  the  United  States  by  one  of 
the  most  bloody  massacres  recorded  in  Indian  history. 
The  particulars  of  the  bloody  transaction  are  copied 
from  a  letter  of  Judge  Toulman,  dated  September 
7th,  1813. 

"  The  dreadful  catastrophe  which  we  have  been 
some  time  anticipating  has  at  length  taken  place. 
The  Indians  have  broken  in  upon  us,  in  numbers  and 


INDIAN    WARS.  189 

fury  unexampled.  Our  settlement  is  overrun,  and  our 
country  I  fear,  is  on  the  eve  of  being  depopulated. 
The  accounts  which  we  received,  led  us  to  expect  an 
attack  about  the  full  moon  of  August;  and  it  was  known 
at  Pensacola,  when  the  ammunition  was  given  to  the 
Indians  who  were  to  be  the  leaders  of  the  respective 
parties  destined  to  attack  the  different  parts  of  our 
settlement.  The  attempt  made  to  deprive  them  of 
their  ammunition,  issued  by  the  Spaniards  on  the  rec 
ommendation  of  a  Brittish  general  on  their  way  from 
Pensacola,  and  in  which  it  was  said  the  Indians  lost 
more  than  20  men,  although  only  one  third  of  our 
people  stood  their  ground,  it  is  highly  probable  in 
some  measure  retarded  their  operations  ;  and  the 
steady  succession  of  rairi  contributed  to  produce  the 
same  effect.  Had  their  attempt  been  conducted  with 
more  judgment  and  supported  with  more  vigor,  there 
would  have  been  an  end,  for  a  time,  of  Indian  warfare. 
In  consequence  of  the  delay, our  citizens  began  to  grow 
careless  and  confident ;  and  so  several  families  who 
had  removed  from  Tensaw  to  fort  Stoddert,  return 
ed  again  and  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  merciless  savages, 
"  Our  whole  plan  of  defence  was  erroneous.  It 
was  adopted  by  the  citizens  under  an  imperfect  view 
of  their  danger,  from  the  best  accounts  which  I  can 
obtain.  I  suppose  that  there  must  have  been  20  forts 
erected  on  the  two  sides  of  the  river  between  fort 
Stoddert  ancl  the  upper  settlements,  a  distance  of 
about  70  miles.,  which  in  a  country  so  thinly  settled 
as  ours,  could  not  be  obtained,  even  if  they  had 
been  better  constructed.  About  the  20th  of  August 
intelligence  was  communicated  to  us  by  the  Choctaw 
Indians,  that  in  8  or  10  days  an  attack  would  be  made 
by  distinct  bodies  of  Creeks  on  M in' s- fort  in  the  Ten- 
saw  settlement,  which  is  on  the  east  side  of  Alabama, 
nearly  opposite  to  fort  Stoddert ;  on  the  forts  in  the 
forks  of  Tombigby  and  Alabama  ;  on  Easely's  fort, 
near  the  Choctaw  line  on  the  Tombigby,  and  finally 
on  the  fort  and  United  State's  trading  house  at  H. 
Hopkin's.  A  very  valuable  officer,  Major  Beasely,  of 
25 


190  INDIAN     WARS. 

the  Mississippi  Territory  volunteer",  Commanded  at 
fort  Min's.  About  a  mile  or  two  from  it  was  another 
fort  at  Pierce's  mill ;  and  a  few  miles  below  that 
place,  at  another  mill,  a  small  party  of  soldiers  was  al 
so  stationed.  Mins,  however,  where  were  the  great 
est  number  of  families  and  property  collected,  seems 
to  have  been  the  sole  object  of  attack  in  that  quarter. 
"  A  few  days  before  the  attack,  some  negroes  of 
Mr.  M'Girt,  who  lived  in  that  part  of  the  Creek  ter 
ritory,  which  is  inhabited  by  half  breeds,  had  been 
sent  up  to  Alabama  to  his  plantation  for  corn  ;  three 
of  them  were  taken  by  a  party  of  Indians.  One  es 
caped  and  brought  down  news  of  the  approach  of  the 
Indians.  The  officer  gave  'but  little  credit  to  him  ; 
but  they  made  some  further  preparation  to  receive 
the  enemy.  On  the  next  day  Mr.  James  Cornels,  a 
half  breed,  and  some  white  men,  who  had  been  out  on 
the  battle  ground,  and  discovered  the  trail  of  a 
considerable  body  of  Indians  going  towards  Mr.  M'- 
Girt's,  came  to  the  fort  and  informed  the  commanding 
officer'of  the  discovery.  Though  their  report  did  not 
appear  to  receive  full  credit  it  occasioned  great  exer 
tions;  and  on  Saturday  and  Sunday  considerable  work 
was  done  to  put  the  fort  in  a  state  of  defence.  On 
Sunday  morning  three  negroes  were  sent  out  to  attend 
the  cattle,  who  soon  returned  with  an  account  that 
they  had  seen  20  Indians.  Scouts  were  sent  out  to 
ascertain  the  truth  of  the  report.  They  returned  and 
declared  they  could  see  no  signs  of  Indians.-  One 
of  the  negroes  belonging  to  Mr.  Randon  was  whipped 
for  bringing  what  they  deemed  a  false  report.  He 
was  sent  out  again  on  Moiiday,  and  saw  a  body  of  In 
dians  approaching  ;  but  afraid  of  being  whipped,  he 
did  not  return  to  Mins  but  to  Pierce's  fort ;  but  be 
fore  his  story  could  be  communicated,  the  attack  was 
made.  The  commanding  officer  called  upon  Mr. 
Fletcher,  who  owned  another  of  the  negroes,  to  whip 
him  also.  He  belived  the  boy  and  resisted  two  or 
three  applications  ;  but  at  length  they  had  him  ac 
tually  brought  out  for  the  purpose,  when  the  Indians 


INDIAN   WARS.  191 

appeared  in  view  of  the  fort.  The  gate  was  open. 
The  Indians  had  to  come  through  an  open  field  150 
yards  wide,  before  they  could  reach  the  fort,  and  yet 
they  were  within  thirty  steps  of  the  fort  at  1 1  in  the 
morning,  before  they  were  noticed.  The  sentry  then 
gave  the  cry  of 'Indians  !'  and  they  immediately  set  up 
a  most  terrible  war-hoop  and  rushed  into  the  gate 
with  inconceivable  rapidity,  and  got  within  it  before 
the  people  of  the  fort  had  an  opportunity  of  shutting  it. 
This  decided  their  fate.  Major  Beasely  was  shot 
through  the  body  near  the  gate.  He  c  ailed  to  the  men 
to  take  care  of  the  ammunition  and  to  retreat  to  the 
house.  He  went  himself  to  a  kitchen  where  it  is  sup 
posed  he  must  have  been  burnt. 

"The  fort  was  originally  square.      Major  Beasely 
had  it  enlarged,  by  extending  the  lines  of  the  two  sides 
about  50  feet,  and  putting  up  a  new  side  into  which 
the  gate  was  removed.     The  old  line  of  pickets  stood 
and  the  Indians,  upon  rushing  into  the  gate,  obtained 
possession    of   this  additional  part  and   through  the 
port  holes  of  the  old  line  of  pickets  fired  on  the  people 
who  held  the  interior.     On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
fort,  an  offsett,  or  bastion  was  made  round  the  back 
gate,  which  being  open  on  the  out  side  was  also  taken 
possession   of  by  the   Indians,   who   with   axes    that 
lay  scatered  about,   immediately   began  to  cut   down 
the  gate.     There  was  a  large  body  of  Indians,  though 
they  probably   did  not    exceed    400.     Our    people 
seemed  to  sustain  tii3  attack  With  undaunted  spirit. 
They  took  possession  of  the  port  holes  in  the  other 
lines  of  the  fort,    and  fired  on  the    Indians    who   re 
mained  in  the  field.     Some  of  the  Indians  got  on  the 
block-house,  atone  of  the  corners  ;  but  after  much  fir 
ing  upon  the  people  they  were  disloged.     They  suc 
ceeded,  however,  in  setting  fire  to  a  house  near  the 
pickets  from  which  it  was  communicated  to  the  kitch 
en  and  from  thence  to  the  main  dwelling  house.   They 
attempted   to    do  it  by  burning  arrows,  but  failed. 
When  the  people  in  the  fort  saw  the  Indians  retained 
full  possession  of  the  outer  court,  and  the  gate  con- 


192  INDIAN   WARS, 

tinned  open,  that  our  men  fell  very  fast,  and  that 
their  houses  were  in  flames,  they  began  to  despond. 
Some  determined  to  cut  their  way  through  the  pick 
ets  and  escape.  Of  the  whole  number  of  white  men 
and  half-  breeds  in  the  fort,  it  is  supposed  that  not 
more  than  25  or  30  escaped,  and  of  these  many  were 
wounded.  The  rest  and  almost  all  the  women  and 
children  fell  a  sacrifice  either  to  the  arms  of  the  In 
dians  or  to  the  flames.  The  battle  terminated  about 
an  hour  before  sun-set. 

"The  information  was  thus  far  given  me  by  a 
person  of  character  and  credibility,  who  was  present 
during  the  whole  scene,  and  who  escaped  through  the 
opening  made  in  .the  pickets.  The  women  and  chil 
dren  took  refuge  in  an  upper  story  of  the  dwelling 
house  ;  and  it  is  said  that  the  Indians  when  the  build 
ings  were  in  flames  danced  round  them  with  savage 
delight.  The  helpless  victims  perished  in  the  flames. 
It  is  also  reported,  that  when  the  buildings  were 
burning  and  the  few  who  remained  were  exposed  to 
the  fire  of  the  enemy,they  collected  many  of  the  guns 
of  the  deceased  and  threw  both  them  and  the  re 
maining  stock  of  ammunition  into  the  flames,  to  pre 
vent  their  becoming  subservient  in  the  hands  of  the 
Indians,  to  the  destruction  of  their  fellow  citizens. 
jSurely  this  was  an  instance  of  determined  resolution 
and  benevolent  foresight  of  which  there  are  not  many 
examples. 

"But  notwithstanding  the  bravery  #f  our  fellow  cit 
izens,  the  Indians  carried  all  before  them  and  murder 
ed  the  armed  and  the  helpless  without  discrimination. 
Our  loss  is  7  commissioned  officers  and  about  100  non 
commisioned  officers  and  privates,  of  the  first  regi 
ment  of  the  Mississippi  Territory  volunteers.  There 
were  about  24  families  of  men  women  and  children  in 
the  fort,  of  whom  almost  all  have  perished,  amounting 
to  160  souls.  I  reckon  however,  among  them  about 
six  families  of  half  breeds,  and  seven  Indians.  There 
were  also  about  106  negroes  of  whom  a  large  pro 
portion  were  killed.  The  half  breeds  have  uniformly 


INDIAN    WARS.  193 

done  themselves  honour,  and  those  who  survived  will 
afford  great  assistance  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war. 
Some  of  the  "most  respectable  among  them  were  at 
Pierce5 s  fort  and  are  ready,  with  all  their  dexterity 
and  all  their  courage,  to  avenge  the  death  of  their 
friends,  and  the  destruction  of  their  property.  It  was 
principally  through  them  that  we  learnt  that  the  real 
object  of  the  Indians  in  obtaining  ammunition  at  Pen- 
sacola,  was  to  make  immediate  war  upon  the  white 
people,  and  that  the  idea  entertained  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  Creek  nation,  that  it  was  only  a  second 
ary  and  remote  object,  was  not  founded  in  fact,  and 
was  probably  suggested  for  the  purpose  of  putting  us 
off  our  guard,  and  keeping  out  of  sight  the  real  inten 
tion  of  their  revolt  against  the  constituted  authorities 
of  their  nation," 


BATTLE    AT    T ALLUSH ATC HES, 

On  the  1st  of  November  Gen.  Jackson,  receiving 
information  thai  a  considerable  number  of  hostile 
Creeks  were  embodied  at  Tallushatches,  he  detached 
Gen.  John  Coffee  with  a  number  of  men'  to  attack  and 
destroy  the  place,  which  he  completely  effected.  The 
following  is  Gen.  Coffee's  official  report  to  General 
Jackson,  of  the  expedition. 

"  Pussuant  to  your  order  of  the  2d,  I  detached  from 
my  brigade  of  cavalry  and  mounted  riflemen  900  men 
and  officers,  and  proceeded  directly  to  the  Tallushat 
ches  towns,  crossed  Coosey  river  at  the  Fish-Dam 
ford,  3  or  4  miles  above  this  place.  I  arrived  within 
one  and  a  half  miles  of  the  town  on  the  morning  of  the 
3d,  at  which  place  I  divided  my  detachment  into  two 
columns,  the  right  composed  of  the  cavalry  command 
ed  by  Col.  Allcorn,  to  cross  over  a  large  creek  that  lay 
between  us  and  the  town  ;  the  left  column  was  of  the 
mounted  rifllemen  under  the  command  of  Col.  Cannon, 
with  whom  I  marched  myself.  Col.  Allcorn  was  or 
dered  to  march  upon  the  right  and  encircle  one  half 


19-1  INDIAN   WAIIS. 

of  the  town,  and  atathe  same  time  the  left  \vould  form 
a  half  circle  on  the  left,  and  unite  the  head  of  the 
columns  in  front  of  the  town,  all  of  which  was  perform 
ed  as  I  could  wish.  When  I  arrived  withi.  half  a 
mile  of  the  town,  the  drums  of  the  enemy  began  to 
beat,  mingled  with  their  savage  yells,  preparing  for 
action.  It  was  an  hour  after  sun-rise  when  the  action 
was  brought  on  by  Capt.  Hammond  and  Lieut.  Patter 
son's  companies,  who  had  gone  on  within  the  circle 
of  alignment  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  out  the  ene 
my  from  their  buildings,  which  had  the  most  happy 
effect.  As  soon  as  Capt.  Hammond  exhibited  his 
front  in  view  of  the  town,  which  stood  in  wood  land, 
and  gave  a  few  scattering  shot,  the  enemy  formed  and 
made  a  violent  charge  on  him  ;  he  gave  way  as  they 
advanced,  until  they  met  our  right  column,  which 
gave  them  a  general  fire  and  then  charged  ;  this 
changed  the  direction  of  the  charge  completely.  The 
enemy  retreated,  firing,  until  they  got  around  and  in 
their  buildings,  where  they  made  all  the  resistance 
that  an  overpowered  soldiery  possibly  could  do;  they 
fought  >as  long  as  one  existed,  but  their  destruction 
was  very  soon  completed  ;  our  men  rushed  up  to  the 
doors  of  the  houses,  and  in  a  few  minutes  killed  the 
last  warrior  of  them.  The  enemy  fought  with  sav- 
age^fury  and  met  death  with  all  its  horrors  without 
shrinking  or  complaining,  not  one  asked  to  be  spared, 
but  fought  as  long  as  they  could  stand  or  sit.  In  con 
sequence  of  their  flying  to  their  houses  and  mixing 
with  the  families,  our  men,  in  killing  the  males  with 
out  intention  killed  and  wounded  a  few  of  the  squaws 
and  children,  which  was  regretted  by  every  officer 
and  soldier  of  the  detatchment  but  it  could  not  be 
avoided. 

"The  number  of  the  enemy  killed  was  ISO  that 
were  counted,  and  a  number  of  others  that  were  kill 
ed  in  the  weeds  and  not  found.  I  think  the  calculation 
a  reasonable  one  to  say  200  of  them  were  killed  and 
81  prisoners  of  women  and  children  were  taken.  Not 


IDIAN   WARS. 

one  of  the  warriors  escaped  to  carry  the  news,  a  cir 
cumstance  hitherto  unknown. 

tCIlost  five  men  killed  and  forty  wounded,  none 
mortally,  the  greater  part  slightly,  a  number  with  ar 
rows  ;  two  of  the  men  killed  was  with  arrows  ;  this 
appears  to  form  a  very  principal  part  of  the  enemy's 
arms  for  warfare  ;  every  mau  having  a  bow  with  a 
bundle  of  arrows  ;  which  is  used  after  the  first  fire 
with  the  gun  until  a  leisure  time  for  loading  offers. 

'•It  is  with  pleasure  I  say  that  our  men  acted  with 
deliberation  and  firmness  ;  notwithstanding  our  num 
bers  were  far  superior  to  that  of  the  enemy,  it  was  a 
circumstance  to  us  unknown,  and  from  the  parade  of 
the  enemy,  we  had  every  reason  to  suppose  them  our 
equals  in  number,  but  there  appeared  no  visible  traces 
of  alarm  in  any  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  all  appeared 
cool  and  determined,  and  no  doubt  when  they  face  a 
foe];of  their  own  or  of  a  superior  number,  they  will 
show  the  same  courage  as  on  this  occasion." 

BATTLE    OF    TALLEDEGA. 

Gen.  Jackson  receiving  information  on  the  7th  No 
vember  that  a  party  of  friendly  Creeks  at  the  fort  at 
Talledega,  were  threatened  with  an  attack  from  a 
considerable  body  of  hostile  Creeks,  marched  to  their 
relief  in  the  evening.  At  4t  o'clock  in  the  morning  of 
the  9th,  he  fell  in  with  the  enemy  within  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  from  the  fort,  and  after  a  short  action  succeeded 
in  dispersing  them  with  great  slaughter. 

The  following  is-  an  extract  from  the  general's  of 
ficial  letter^  giving  the  particulars  of  the  battle. 

4 'At  sun-rise  we  came  within  half  a  mile  of  them, 
and  having  formed  my  men,  I  moved  oa  in  battle 
order.  The  infantry  were  in  three  lines  .  the  militia 
on  the  left  and  vulunteers  on  the  right.  The  caval 
ry  formed  the  extreme  wings  ;  and  were  ordered  to 
advance  in  a  curve,  keeping  their  rear  connected  with 
the  advance  of  their  infantry  lines, and  enclosed  the  en- 


196  INDIAN   WARS. 

cmy  in  a  circle.  The  advanced  guard  whom  I  sent 
forward  to  bring  on  the  engagement,  met  the  attack 
of  the  enemy  with  great  intrepidity;  and  having  pour 
ed  upon  them  four  or  five  very  gallant  rounds,  fell 
back  as  they  had  been  previously  ordered  to  the  main 
army.  The  enemy  pursued,  and  the  front  line  was 
now  ordered  to  advance  and  meet  them  ;  but  owing 
to  some  misunderstanding,  a  few  companies  of  militia, 
who  composed  a  part  of  it  commenced  a  retreat.  At 
this  moment  a  corps  of  cavalry  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Dyer,  which  I  had  kept  as  a  reserve,  was  ordered  to 
dismount  and  fill  up  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the 
retreat.  This  order  was  executed  with  a  great  deal 
of  promptitude  and  effect. 

"The  militia,  seeing  this,  speedily  rallied,  and  the 
fire  became  general   along  the  first  line,  and  on  that 
part  of  the  wings  which  was  contiguous.   The  enemy 
unable  to  stand  it,  began  to  retreat,  but  were  met  at 
every  turn  and  pursued  in  every  direction.    The  right 
wing  chased  them  with  a  most  destructive  fire  to  the 
mountains,  a  distance  of  about  three  miles;  and  had  I 
not  been    compelled  by  the  faux  pas  of  the  militia  in 
the  onset  of  the  battle, to  dismount  my  reserve,!  believe 
not  a  man  of  them  would  have  escaped.   The  victory 
however,  was  very  decisive;  290  of  the  enemy  were 
left  dead,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  but.  many  more 
were  killed  who  were  not  found.   Wherever  they  ran 
they  left  behind   traces  of  blood  ;   and  I  believe  that 
very  few  will  return  to  their  villages  in  as  sound  con 
dition  as  they  left  them.  I  was  compelled  to  return  to 
this  place  to  protect  the  sick  and  wounded, and  get  my 
baggage.     In  the  engagement  we  lost  15  killed   and 
15  wouned,  two  of  whom  have  since    died.     All  the 
officers  acted  with  the  utmost  bravery,  and  so  did  all 
the  privates,  except  that  part  of  the  militia  who  re 
treated  at  the  commencement  of  the  battle  ;  and  they 
hastened  to  atone  for  their  error.     Taking  the  whole 
together  they  have  realized  the   high  expectations  I 
had  formed  of  them,    and  have  fairly   entitled  them 
selves  to  the  gratitude  of  their  country." 


INDIAN  WARS.  197 

BATTLE    AT    HILUBEE    TOWNS. 

On  the  llth  November  a  detatchment  of  the  Ten 
nessee  rnilitia,  under  Gen.  White,  was  sent  against 
the  Hillibee  towns,  for  the  purpose  of  punishing  the 
hostile  Creeks  in  that  quarter.  Gen.  White's  official 
letter  to  Major  Gen.  Coeke,  giving  a  detailed  account 
of  the  expedition,  is  as  follows: 

"  Under  your  order  of  the  llth  November,  I  im 
mediately  marched  with  the  mounted  infantry  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Major  Porter,  and  a  few 
of  the  Cherokee  Indians  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Morgan,  with  very  short  rations  only.  We  continued 
our  march  to  little  Oakfuskie,  when  we  fell  in  with 
and  captured  five  hostile  Creek  warriors,  supposed  to 
be  spies.  Finding  no  other  Indians  at  that  place,  we 
burned  the  town,  which  consisted  of  30  houses.  We 
then  proceeded  to  a  town  called  Genalga,  and  burned 
the  same, consisting  of  93  houses.  Thence  we  proceed 
ed  to  Nitty  Chapota,  consisting  of  about  25  houses, 
which  I  considered  it  most  prudent  not  to  destroy,  as 
it  might  possibly  be  of  use  at  some  future  period. — 
Thence  we  marched  to  the  Hillibee  town,  consisting 
of  about  20  houses,  adjoining  which  was  Grayston's 
farm  ;  previous,  to  our  arrival  at  that  place,  I  was 
advised  that  a  part  of  the  hostile  Creeks  were  assem 
bled  there.  Having  marched  within  six  or  seven 
miles  of  it  on  the  17th,  I  dismounted  a  part  of  the 
force  under  my  command,  and  sent  them  under  the 
command  of  Col.  Burch,  with  the  Cherokees  under 
the  command  of  Col.  Morgan,  in  advance,  to  surround 
the  town  in  the  night,  and  make  the  attack  at  day 
light  on  the  18th.  Owing  to  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  the  town  was  not  reached  until  after  day-light; 
but  so  complete  was  the  surprise,  that  we  succeeded 
in  surrounding  the  town,  and  killing  and  capturing  al 
most,  if  not  entirely,  the  whole  of  the  hostile  Creeks 
assembled  there,  consisting  of  about  310  ;  of  which 
number  about  60  warriors  were  killed  on  the  spot, 
and  the  remainder  made  prisoners.  Before  the  close 


198  INDIAN    WARS. 

of  the  engagement  my  whole  force  was  up  and  ready 
for  action,  had  it  become  necessary;  but  owing  to  the 
want  of  knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  of  our 
approach,  they  were  entirely  killed  and  taken  before 
they  could  prepare  for  any  effectual  defence.     We 
lost  not  one  drop  of  blood  in  accomplishing  this  en 
terprise.     We  destroyed  this  village,  and  in  obedience 
to  your  orders,  commenced   our  march  for  this  post, 
which  we  were  unable  to  reach   until  yesterday.      I 
estimate  the  distance  from  this  to  Grayston's  farm  at 
about  100  miles.      The  ground  over  which  we  trav 
elled  is  so  rough  and    hilly  as   to   render    a  passage 
very  difficult.     Many  defiles  it  was  impossible  to  pass 
in   safety,   without  the   greatest  precaution.     For  a 
part  of  the  time  the  weather  was  so  very  wet,  being 
encumbered  with   prisoners,  and  the  troops  and  their 
horses  having  to  subsist  in  a  very  great  degree  upon 
such  supplies  as  we  could  procure  in  the  nation,  ren 
dered  our  march  more  tardy  than  it  otherwise  would 
have  been. 

"  The  troops  under  my  command  have  visited  the 
heart  of  that  section  of  the  Creek  nation  where  the 
Red  Sticks  were  first  distributed. 

"In  justice  to  this  gallant  band,  I  am  proud  to  state 
that  the   whole  of  the    officers    and  men    under   the 
command  of  Col.  Burch  performed  their  duty  cheer 
fully   and    without    complaint  ;    that   from    the   cool 
orderly  and   prompt   manner  in  which  Major  Porter, 
and  the  cavalry  under  his  command,  formed  and  con 
ducted  themselves   in  every  case  of  alarm,  I  had  the 
highest  confidence   in  them.     Col.  Morgan  and  the 
Cherokees  under  his  command,  gave  undeniable  evi 
dence   that  they   merit   the   employ  of  their  govern 
ment.     In   short,   the   whole   detachment   under  my 
command   conducted   in   such  a  manner  as  to  enable 
me  to  assure  you  that  they  are  capable  of  performing 
any  thing  to  which  the  Same  number  of  men  are  equal. 
•4  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  add,  that  Mr.  M'Corry, 
who  acted  as  my  aid  in  this  expedition,  rendered  ser 
vices  that  to  me  were    indispensable,   to   his   country 
vgry  usef'%  and  to  himself  highly  honourable. " 


CHAP.    XYL 


GREEK     WAR     CONTINUED,    BATTLE    AT    ANTOSSB, 
ATTACK    UPON    CAMP    DEFIANCE. 


The  Georgia  militia  under  Gen.  Floyd,  on  the 
25th  November,  succeeded  in  defeating  a  large  body 
of  hostile  Creeks  at  Antosse.  The  following  is  Gen. 
Floyd's  official  letter  to  Gen,  Pinckney,  detailing 
the  particulars  of  the  battle. 

"  Having  received  information  that  numbers  of 
those  hostile  Indians  were  assembled  at  Antosse,  a 
town  on  the  northern  bank  of  Tallapoosa,  about 
18  miles  from  the  hickory  ground,  and  20  above  the 
junction  of  that  river  with  the  Coosa,  I  proceeded  to 
it  with  950  of  the  Georgia  militia,  accompanied  by  be 
tween  3  and  400  friendly  Indians.  Having  encamped 
within  9  or  10  miles  of  the  point  of  destination  the 
preceding  evening,  we  resumed  the  march  a  few 
minutes  before  one,  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  and 
at  half  past  six  were  formed  for  action  in  front  of  the 
town. 

^  Booth's  battalion  composed  the  right  column, 
and  marched  from  its  centre.  Watson's  battalion 
composed  the  left,  and  marched  from  its  right  ; 
Adams'  riffle  company,  and  Merriwhether's  under 
Lieut.  Hendon,  were  on  the  flanks  ;  Capt.  Thomas9 
artillery  marched  in  front  of  the  right  column  in  the 
road. 

u  It  was  my  intention  to  have  completely  surround 
ed  the  -enemy,  by  applying  the  right  wing  of  my 
force  on  Canlebee  creek,  at  the  mouth  of  which  I 
was  informed  the  town  stood,  and  resting  the  left  on 
the  bank  below  the  town  ;  but  to  our  surprise,  as 


200  INDIAN    WARS. 

day  dawned  we  perceived  a  second  town  about  500 
yards  below  that  which  we  had  first  viewed,  and 
were  preparing  to  attack.  The  plan  was  immedi 
ately  changed  ;  three  companies  of  infantry  on  the  left 
were  wheeled  to  the  left  into  echellon,  and  were  ad 
vanced  to  the  low  town,  accompanied  by  Merri- 
whether's  rifle  company,  and  two  troops  of  light 
dragoons  under  the  command  of  Captains  Irwin  and 
Steel. 

"The  residue  of  the  force  approached  the  upper 
town,  and  the  battle  soon  became  general.  The  In 
dians  presented  themselves  at  every  point  and  fought 
with  the  desperate  bravery  of  real  fanatics.  The 
well  directed  fire,  however,  of  the  artillery,  added  to 
the  charge  of  the  bayonet,  soon  forced  them  to  take 
refuge  in  the  out-houses,  thickets  and  copses  in  the 
rear  of  the  town  ;  many  it  is  believed  concealed 
themselves  in  caves  previously  formed  for  the  pur 
pose  of  secure  retreat,  in  the  high  bluff  of  the  river, 
which  was  thickly  covered  with  reed  and  brushwood. 
The  Indians  of  the  friendly  party,  who  accompanied 
us  on  the  expedition,  were  divided  into  four  com 
panies,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  leaders 
of  their  own  selection.  They  were-  by  engagement 
entered  into  the  day  previous,  to  have  crossed  the 
river  above  the  town  and  been  posted  on  the  oppo 
site  shore  during  the  action,  for  the  purpose  of  firing 
upon  such  of  the  enemy  as  might  attempt  to  escape, 
or  keep  in  check  any  reinforcement  which  might 
probably  be  thrown  in  from  the  neighboring  towns. ; 
but  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  the  ford,  the  coldness 
of  the  weather,  and  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  this  ar 
rangement  failed,  and  their  leaders  were  directed 
to  cross  Canlebee  creek  and  occupy  that  flank,  to 
prevent  escapes  from  the  Tallisee  town.  Some 
time  after  the  action  commenced,  our  red  friends 
thronged  in  disorder  in  the  rear  of  our  lines.  The 
•'Cowetaws  under  M'Intosh,  and  the  Tookabatchians 
under  Mad-Dog's  Son,  fell  into  our  tlanks,aDd  fought 
•with  an  intrepidity  worthy  of  any  troops. 


INDIAN    WARS.  201 

Ci  At  nine  o'clock  the  enemy  were  completely  driven 
from  the  plain,  and  the  houses  of  both  towns  wrap 
ped  in  flames.  As  we  were  then  60  miles  from  any 
depot  of  provisions,  and  our  five  days  rations  pretty 
much  reduced,  in  the  heart  of  our  enemy's  country, 
which  in  a  few  moments  could  have  poured  from  its 
numerous  towns  hosts  of  its  fiercest  warriors  ;  as 
soon  as  the  dead  and  wounded  were  disposed  [of,  I 
ordered  the  place  to  be  abandoned,  and  the  troops  to 
commence  their  march  to  Geatahouche. 

"It  is  difficult  to  determine  the  strength  of  the  en 
emy,  but  from  the  information  of  some  of  the  chiefs, 
which  it  is  said  can  be  relied  on,  there  were  assem 
bled  at  Antosse  warriors  from  eight  towns  for  its  de 
fence,  it  being  their  beloved  ground,  on  which  they 
proclaimed  no  white  man  could  approach  without  in 
evitable  destruction.  It  is  difficult  to  give  a  precise 
account  of  the  loss  of  the  enemy  ;  but  from  the  num 
ber  which  were  lying  scattered  over  the  field,  togeth 
er  with  those  destroyed  in  the  towns,  and  the  many 
slain  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  which  respectable 
officers  affirm  they  saw  lying  in  heaps  at  the  waters 
edge,  where  they  had  been  precipitated  by  their  sur 
viving  friends,  their  loss  in  killed,  independent  of 
their  wounded,  must  have  been  at  least  200  ;  among 
whom  are  the  Antosse  and  Tallissee  kings  ;  and  from 
the  circumstance  their  making  no  efforts  to|molest 
our  return,  probably  greater.  The  number  of  build 
ings  burnt,  some  of  a  superior  order  for  the  dwelling 
of  savages,  and  filled  with  valuable  articles,  is  sup 
posed  to  be  400. 

"  Adjutant  General  Newman  rendered  important 
services  during  the  action,  by  his  cool  and  deliberate 
courage.  My  aid,  Maj.  Crawford,  discharged  with 
promptitude  the  duties  of  a  brave  and  meritorious 
officer.  Maj.  Pace,  who  acted  as  field  aid,  also  dis 
tinguished  himself.  Both  these  gentlemen  had  their 
horses  shot  under  them,  and  the  latter  lost  his.  Dr. 
Williamson,  hospital  Surgeon,  and  Dr.  Clopton,  were 


202  INDIAN     WARS. 

prompt  and  attentive  in  discharge  of  their  duty  to 
wards  the  wounded  during  the  action, 

44  Maj.  Freeman,  at  the  head  of  Irwin's  troop  of 
cavalry  and  part  of  Steel's  made  a  furious  and  suc 
cessful  charge  upon  a  large  body  of  Indians,  sabred 
several,  and  completely  defeated  them.  Capt. 
Thomas  and  his  company,  Capt.  Adams  and  Lieut. 
Hendon's  rifle  companies  killed  a  great  many  Indians 
and  deserve  particular  praise.  Capt.  Barton's  compa 
ny  were  in  the  hottest  of  the  battle,  and  fought  like 
soldiers.  Capts.  Myrick,  Wells,  Little,  King,  Broad- 
nax,  Cleveland,  Cunningham  and  Lee,  with  their 
companies  distinguished  themselves,  Brigade  Ma 
jor  Sharkleford  was  of  great  service  in  bringing  the 
troops  into  action,  and  Adjutant  Broadnax  and  Ma 
jor  Montgomery,  who  acted  as  assistant  adjutants, 
showed  great  courage.  Major  Booth  used  his  best 
endeavour  in  bringing  his  battalion  to  action,  and  Maj. 
Watson's  battalion  acted  with  considerable  spirit. 
Irwin,  Patterson  and  Steele's  troop  of  cavalry,  when 
ever  an  opportunity  presented,  charged  with  success. 
Lieut.  Strong  had  his  horse  shot  and  narrowly  escap 
ed,  and  quarter  master  Tennot  displayed  the  great 
est  heroism,  and  miraculously  escaped,  though  badly 
wounded,  after  having  his  horse  shot  from  under  him; 
the  topographical  engineer  was  vigilant  in  his  endea 
vours  to  render  service. 

11  The  troops  deserve  the  highest  praise  for  their 
fortitude  in  enduring  hunger,  cold  and  fatigue  without 
a  murmur,  having  marched  120  miles  in  seven  days. 

"The  friendly  Indians  lost  several  killed  and  woun 
ded,  the  number  not  exactly  known. 

ATTACK    ON    CAMP    DEFIANCE. 

Gen.  Floyd  was  attacked  by  a  large  body  of  hostile 
Creeks  in  his  encampment,  48  miles  west  of  Cola- 
hoochie,  on  the  27th  January  ;  but  succeeded  in  re 
pelling  them  after  a  very  bloody  conflict.  The  par 
ticulars  are  contained  in  the  following  letter  of  the 


INDIAN    WARS.  203 

general  to  Major  Gen.  Pinckney,  dated  on  the  day  of 
the  engagement. 

"This  morning,  at  20  minutes  past  5  o'clock  a  very 
Targe  body  of  hostile  Indians  made  a  desperate  attack 
upon  the  army  under  tny  command.  They  stole  up 
on  our  sentinels,  fired  on  them?  and  with  great 
ferosity  rushed  upon  our  line.  In  twenty  minutes 
the  action  became  general,  and  our  front,  right  and 
left  flanks  were  closely  pressed,  but  the  braveland 
gallant  conduct  of  the  field  and  line  officers,  and  the 
firmness  of  our  men,  repelled  them  at  every  point. 

"  The  steady  firmness  and  incessant  fire  of  Capt. 
Thomas'  artillery,  and  Capt.Adams'riflemen,  preserv 
ed  our  front  lines.  Both  of  these  companies  suffered 
greatly.  The  enemy  rushed  within  30  yards  of  the  ar 
tillery, and  Capt.  Broadnax  wTho  commanded  one  of  the 
piquet  guards,  maintained  his  post  with  great  bravery 
until  the  enemy  gained  his  rear,  and  then  cut  his  way 
through  them  to  the  army.  On  this  occasion,  Tim- 
poche  Barnard,  a  half-breed,  at  the  head  of  the 
Uchtes,  distinguished  himself,  and  contributed  to  the 
retreat  of  the  piquet  guard  :  the  other  friendly  In 
dians  took  refuge  in  our  lines  and  remained  inac 
tive,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  who  joined  our 
ranks.  As  soon  as  it  become  light  enough  to  distin 
guish  objects,  I  ordered  Majors  Watson  and  Free 
man's  battalions,  to  wheel  at  right  angles  with  Majors 
Booth  and  Cleveland's  battalions,  which  formed  the 
right  wing,  to  prepare  for  the  charge.  Capt.  Duke 
Hamilton's  cavalry,  which  had  reached  me  but  the  day 
before,  was  ordered  to  form  in  the  rear  of  the  right 
wing,  to  act  as  circumstances  should  dictate.  The 
order  for  the  charge  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  the 
enemy  fled  in  every  direction  before  the  bayonet. — 
The  signal  was  given  for  the  charge  of  the  cavalry, 
who  pursued  and  sabred  15  of  the. enemy,  and  left  37 
dead  on  the  field.  From  the  effusion  of  blood,  and 
the  number  of  head  dresses  and  war  clubs  found  in 
various  directions,  their  loss  must  have  been  consider 
able,  independent  of  their  wounded. 


204  INDIAN    WARS. 

<CI  directed  the  friendly  Indians,  with  Merriwethcr 
and  Ford's  rifle  companies,  accompanied  by  Cap 
tain  Hamilton's  troop,  to  pursue  them  through  Can- 
lebes  swamp  where  they  were  trailed  by  their  blood,' 
but  they  succeeded  in  overtaking  but  one  of  the  woun 
ded. 

"  Col.  Newman  received  three  balls  in  the  com 
mencement  of  the  action  which  deprives  me  of  the  ser 
vices  of  that  gallant  and  useful  officer.  The  assistant 
Adjutant  General  Hardin  was  indefatigable  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duty,  and  rendered  important  ser 
vices;  his  horse  was  wounded  under  him.  The  whole 
of  the  Staff  was  prompt,  and  discharged  their  duty 
with  courage  and  fidelity.  Their  vigilance,  and  the 
intrepidity  and  firmness  of  the  men,  meet  my  approba 
tion,  and  deserve  the  praise  of  their  country. 

'*  My  aid-de-camp,  in  executing  ray  orders,  had  his 
horse  killed  under  him  Gen.  Lee  and  Maj.  Pace, 
who  acted  as  additional  aids,  rendered  me  essential 
services,  with  honour  to  themselves  and  usefulness  to 
the  cause  in  which  they  had  embarked.  Four  wag 
gon  horses,  and  several  others  were  killed,  and  two 
of  the  artillery  horses  wounded.  While  I  deplore 
the  loss  sustained  on  this  occasion,  I  have  the  conso 
lation  to  know  that  the  men  whom  I  have  the  honour 
to  command  have  done  their  duty." 

EXPEDITION   TO  THE   BEND  OF   THE   TALLAPOOSA. 

On  the  14th  January,  Gen.  Jackson  having  been 
reinforced  by  about  800  volunteers,  commenced  his 
march  in  quest  of  the  enemy  upon  the  Tallapoosa 
river.  The  objects  and  particulars  of  the  expedition 
are  disclosed  in  the  following  letter  from  Gen.  Jack 
son  to  Maj.  Gen.  Pinckney  : 

"  Head-Quarters,  Fort  Strother,  Jan.  29. 

uSir — I  had  the  honour  of  informing  you  in  a  let 
ter  of  the  31st  ult.  forwarded  by  Mr.  M'Candles, 
(express)  of  an  excursion  I  contemplated  making  still 


INDIAN  WARS.  205 

further  into  the  enemy's  country,  with  the  new  rais 
ed  volunteers  from  Tennessee.  I  had  ordered  those 
troops  to  form  a  junction  with  me  on  the  10th  instant; 
but  they  did  not  arrive  until  the  14th.  Their  number, 
including  officers,  was  about  800;  and  on  the  15th,  I 
marched  them  across  the  river,  to  graze  their  horses. 
On  the  next  day,  I  followed  with  the  remainder  of  my 
force  consisting  of  the  artillery  company,  with  one  6 
pounder  ;  one  company  of  infantry,  of  48  men;  two 
companies  of  spies,  commanded  by  Captains  Gordon 
and  Russell,  of  about  30  men  each;  and  a  company  of 
volunteer  officers  headed  by  Gen.  Coffee,  who  had 
been  abandoned  by  his  men,  and  who  still  remained 
in  the  field,  awaiting  the  order  of  the  government  ; 
making  my  force,  exclusive  of  Indians,  930. 

tc  The  motives  which  influenced  me  to  penetrate 
still  farther  into  the  enemy's  country,  with  this  force, 
were  many,  and  urgent.  The  term  of  service  of  the 
new  raised  volunteers,  was  short,  and  a  considerable 
part  of  it  was  expired  ;  they  were  expensive  to  the 
government,  and  were  full  of  ardour  to  meet  the  ene 
my.  The  ill  effects  of  keeping  soldiers  of  this  de 
scription  long  stationary  and  idle,  I  had  been  made 
to  feel  but  too  sensibly  already.  Other  causes  con 
curred  to  make  such  a  movement  not  only  justifiable, 
but  absolutely  necessary.  I  had  received  a  letter 
from  Capt.  M5  Alpin,  of  the  5th  inst.  who  commanded 
at  Fort  Armstrong,  in  the  absence  of  Col.  Snodgrass, 
informing  me  that  14  or  15  towns  of  the  enemy,  situ 
ated  on  Tallapoosa,  were  about  uniting  their  forces 
and  attacking  that  place,  which  had  been  left  in  a 
very  feeble  state  of  defence.  You  had  in  your  letter 
of  the  24th  ult.  informed  me  that  Gen.  Floyd  was 
about  to  make  a  movement  to  the  Tallapoosa,  near  its 
junction  with  the  Coose  ;  and  in  the  same  letter  had 
recommended  temporary  excursions  against  such  of 
the  enemy's  towns  or  settlements,  as  might  be  within 
striking  distance,  as  well  to  prevent  my  men  from  be- 
21 


INDIAN  WARS. 

coming  discontented,  as  to  harras  the  enemy.  Youl 
ideas  corresponded  exactly  with  my  own,  and,  I  was 
happy  in  the  opportunity  of  keeping  my  men  engaged 
distressing  the  enemy,  and  at  the  same  time  making  a 
diversion  to  facilitate  the  operations  of  Gen.  Floyd. 

"Determined  by  these,  and  other  considerations,  I 
took  up  the  line  of  march  on  the  17th  inst.  and  on  the 
night  of  the  18th  encamped  at  Talledega  fort,  where 
I  was  joined  by  between  two  and  three  hundred 
friendly  Indians  ;  sixty  five  of  whom,  were  Chero- 
kees,  the  balance  Creeks.  Here  I  received  your  letter 
of  the  9th  inst.  stating  that  Gen.  Floyd  was  expected 
to  make  a  movement  from  Cowetau  the  next  day,  and 
that  in  18  days  thereafter  he  could  establish  a  firm 
position  at  Tutkabotchee;  and  also  a  letter  from  Col. 
Snodgrass,  who  had  returned  to  Fort  Armstrong,  in 
forming  me  that  an  attack  was  intended  soon  to  be 
made  by  900  of  the  enemy.  If  I  could  have  hesita 
ted  before,  I  could  now  hesitate  no  longer.  I  resolved 
to  lose  no  time  in  meeting  this  force,  which  was  un 
derstood  to  have  been  collected  from  New  Yorcau, 
Oakfuskee  and  Ufauley  towns,  and  were  concentrated 
in  the  bend  of  the  Tallapoosa,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
creek  called  Emuckfau,  on  an  island  below  New 
Yorcau. 

*'On  the  morning  of  the  29th, your  letter  of  the  10th 
instant,  forwarded  by  Mr.  M'Candles,  reached  meat 
the  Hillibee  Tillage,  situated  about  12  miles  from 
Emuckfau.  Here  I  began  to  perceive  very  plainly 
how  little  knowledge  my  spies  had  of  the  country,  of 
the  situation  of  the  enemy,  or  of  the  distance  I  was 
from  them.  The  insubordination  of  the  new  troops, 
and  the  want  of  skill  in  most  of  their  officers,  also  be 
come  more  and  more  apparent.  But  their  ardour  to 
meet  the  enemy  was  not  diminished  ;  and  I  had  a 
sure  reliance  upon  the  guards,  a  company  of  old  vol 
unteer  officers,  and  upon  the  spies,  in  all  125.  My 
wishes  and  duty  remained  united,  and  I  was  dtter- 


INDIAN    WARS.  507 

mined  to  effect,  if  possible,  the  objects  for  which  the 
excursion  had  been  principally  undertaken. 

uOn  the  morning  of  the  21st,  I  marched  from  Eno- 
tachopee,  as  direct  as  I  could  for  the  bend  of  the  Tal- 
lapoosa,  and  about  2  o'clock,  P.  M.  my  spies  having 
discovered  two  of  the  enemy,  endeavoured  to  catch 
them  but  failed.  In  the  evening,  I  fell  in  upon  a 
large  trail,  which  led  to  a  new  road,  much  beaten  and 
lately  travelled.  Knowing  that  I  must  have  arrived 
within  the  neighbourhood  of  a  strong  force,  and  it  be 
ing  late  in  the  day,  I  determined  to  encamp,  and  re 
connoitre  the  country  in  the  night.  I  chose  the  best 
site  the  country  would  admit,  encamped  in  a  hollow 
square,  sent  out  my  spies  and  pickets,  doubled  my 
sentinels,  and  made  the  necessary  arrangements  before 
dark,  for  a  night  attack.  About  10 o'clock  at  night, 
one  of  the  pickets  fired  at  three  of  the  enemy,  and 
killed  one,  but  he  was  not  found  until  the  next  day. 
At  11  o'clock,  the  spies  whom  I  had  sent  out  returned 
with  the  information,  that  there  was  a  large  encamp 
ment  of  Indians  at  the  distance  of  about  three  miles, 
who  from  their  whooping  and  dancing,  seemed  to  be 
apprised  of  our  approach.  One  of  these  spies,  an  In 
dian  in  whom  I  had  great  confidence,  assured  me  that 
they  were  carrying  off  their  women  and  children  and 
that  the  warriors  would  either  make  their  escape,  or 
attack  me  before  day.  Being  prepared  at  all  points, 
nothing  remained  to  be  done  but  await  their  approach, 
if  they  meditate  an  attack,  or  to  be  in  readiness,  if 
they  did  not,  to  pursue  and  attack  them  at  day-light. 
While  we  were  in  this  state  of  readiness,  the  enemy, 
about6  o'clock  in  the  morning,  commenced  a  vigorous 
attack  on  my  left  flank,  which  was  vigorously  met. 
The  action  continued  to  rage  on  my  left  flank,  and  on 
the  left  of  my  rear  for  about  half  an  hour.  The  brave 
Gen.  Coffee,  with  Col.  Sittler  the  Adjutant  General, 
and  Col.  Carroll,  the  Inspector  Gen.  at  the  moment 
the  firing  commenced,  mounted  their  horses,  and  re 
paired  to  the  line,  encouraging  and  animating  the  men 
t«  the  performance  of  their  duty.  As  soon  as  it  be- 


208  INDIAN  WARS. 

come  light  enough  to  pursue,  the  left  wing  having  sus 
tained  the  heat  of  the  action,  and  being  somewhat 
Weakened,  was  reinforced  by  Capt.  FerrilPs  company 
of  infantry,  and  was  ordered  and  led  to  the  charge  by 
Gen,  Coffee,  who  was  well  supported  by  Col.  Higgins 
and  the  Inspector  General,  and  by  all  the  officers  and 
privates  who  composed  that  line.  The  enemy  was 
completely  routed  at  every  point,  and  the  friendly  In 
dians  joining  in  the  pursuit,  they  were  chased  about 
two  miles  with  great  slaughter. 

"  The  chase  being  over,  I  immediately  detatched 
Gen.  Coffee  with  400  men  and  all  the  Indian  force,  to 
burn  their  encampment;  but  it  was  said  by  some  to  be 
fortified.     I  ordered  him  in  that  event,  not  to  attack 
it  until  the  artillery   could  be  sent  forward  to  reduce 
it.     On  viewing  the  encampment  and  its  strength,  the 
General  thought  it  most  prudent  to  return  to  my  en 
campment,  and  guard  the  artillery  thither.     The  wis 
dom  of  this  step  was  soon  discovered.     In  half  an 
hour  after  his  return  to  camp,  a  considerable  force  of 
the  enemy  made  its  appearance  on  my  right  flank,  and 
commenced  a  brisk  fire  on  a  party  of  men  who  had 
been  on  a  picket  guard  the  night  before  and  were  then 
in  search  of  the  Indians  they  had  fired  upon,  some  of 
whom  they  believed  had  been  killed.   Gen.  Coffee  im- 
'mediately  requested  me  to  let  him  take  200  men  and 
turn  their  left  flank,  which  I  accordingly  ordered;  but 
through  some  mistake,  which  I  did  not  then  observe, 
not  more  than  54  followed  him  among  whom  were  the 
old  volunteer  officers.     With  these,  however,  he  im 
mediately  commenced   an  attack  on  the  left  flank  of 
the  enemy;  at  which  time  I  ordered  200  of  the  friend 
ly  Indians  to  fall  in  upon  the  right  flank  of  the  €ne- 
my  and  co-operate  with   the    General.     This  order 
was  promptly  obeyed,  and  in  the  moment  of  its  exe 
cution  what  I   expected  was  realized.     The  enemy 
had  intended  to  attack  on  the  right,  as  a  feint,  and  ex 
pecting  me  to  direct  all  my  attention  thither,  meant 
to  attack  me  again  with  their  main  force  on  the  left 
-flank,  which  they  hoped  to  find  weakened  and  in  dis- 


INDIAN  WARS.  209 

order  ;  but  they  were  disappointed.  I  had  ordered 
the  left  flank  to  remain  firm  to  its  place,  and  the  mo 
ment  the  alarm  gun  was  heard  in  that  quarter,  I  re 
paired  thither,  and  ordered  Capt.  Ferrill  with  part  of 
my  reserve  to  support  it.  The  whole  line  met  the 
approach  of  the  enemy  with  astonishing  intrepidity 
and  having  given  a  few  fires,  they  forthwith  charged 
with  great  vigour.  The  effect  was  immediate  and  in 
evitable.  The  enemy  fled  with  great  precipitation,and 
were  pursued  to  a  considerable  distance  by  the  left 
flank  and  the  friendly  Indians,  with  a  galling  and  de 
structive  fire.  Col.  Carroll,  who  ordered  the  charge, 
led  on  the  pursuit,  and  Col.  Higgins  and  his  regi 
ment  again  distinguished  themselves. 

^  In  the  mean  time,  Gen.  Coffee  was  contending 
with  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  The  Indians 
whom  I  had  ordered  to  his  support,  and  who  had  set 
out  for  the  purpose,  hearing  the  firing  on  the  left,  had 
returned  to  that  quarter,  and  W7hen  the  enemy  were 
routed  there,  entered  into  the  chase .  That  being  now 
over,  I  forthwith  ordered  Jim  Fife,  who  was  one  of 
the  principal  commanders  of  the  friendly  Creeks,  with 
100  of  his  warriors,  to  execute  my  first  order.  As 
soon  as  he  reached  Gen.  Coffee,  the  charge  was  made 
and  the  enemy  routed.  They  were  pursued  about 
three  miles,  and  45 of  them  slain,  who  were  found. 
Gen.  Coffee  was  wounded  in  the  body,  and  his  Aid- 
de-camp,  A.  Donaldson,  killed,  together  with  three 
others.  Having  brought  in  and  buried  the  dead,  and 
dressed  the  wounded,  I  ordered  my  camp  to  be  forti 
fied,  to  be  better  prepared  to  repel  any  attack 
which  might  be  made  in  the  night ;  determining  to 
commence  a  return  march  to  fort  Strother  the  follow 
ing  day.  Many  causes  concurred  to  make  such  a 
measure  necessary;  as  I  had  not  set  out  prepared,  or 
with  a  view  to  make  a  permanent  establishment,  I 
considered  it  worse  than  useless  to  advance  and  de 
stroy  an  empty  encampment. 

"I  had  indeed  hoped  to  have  met  the  enemy  there 
but  having  met  and  beat  them  a  little  sooner,  I  did 


210  INDIAN     WARS. 

not  think  it  necessary  or  prudent  to  proceed  any  fur 
ther;  not  necessary,  because  I  had  accomplished  all  I 
could  expect  to  effect  by  marching  to  their  encamp 
ment;  and  because  if  it  was  necessary  to  contend  with 
and  weaken  their  forces  still  farther,  this  object  would 
inspire  them  to  pursue  me;  not  prudent,  because  of  the 
number  of  my  wounded  ;  of  the  reinforcement  from 
below,  which  the  enemy  might  be  expected  to  receive; 
of  the  starving  condition  of  my  horses,  they  having 
had  neither  corn  nor  cane  for  two  days  and  nights;  of 
the  scarcity  of  supplies  for  my  men,  the  Indians  who 
had  joined  me  at  Talledega  having  drawn  none,  and 
being  wholly  destitute  ;  and  because,  if  the  enemy 
pursued  me  as  it  was  likely  they  would,  the  diversion 
in  favour  of  General  Floyd  would  be  the  more  com 
plete  and  effectual.  Influenced  by  these  considera 
tions,  I  commenced  my  return  march  at  half  past  ten 
on  the  twenty  third, and  was  fortunate  enough  to  reach 
Enotochopco  before  night,  having  passed  without  in 
terruption  a  dangerous  defile,  occasioned  by  a  hurri 
cane.  I  again  fortified  my  camp,  and  having  another 
defile  to  pass  in  the  morning,  across  a  deep  creek  and 
between  two  hills,  which  I  had  viewed  with  attention 
as  I  passed  on,  and  where  I  expected  I  might  be  at 
tacked,  I  determined  to  pass  it  at  another  point,  and 
gave  directions  to  my  guide  and  fatigue  men  accord 
ingly.  My  expectation  of  an  attack  in  the  morning 
was  increased  by  the  signs  of  the  night,  and  with  it 
my  caution.  Before  I  removed  the  wounded  from  the 
interior  of  my  camp,  I  had  my  front  and  rear  guards 
formed  as  well  as  my  right  and  left  columns,  and 
moved  off  my  centre  in  regular  order,  leading  down  a 
handsome  ridge  to  Enotachopco  creek,  at  a  point 
where  it  was  clear  of  reed,  except  immediately  on  its 
margin.  I  had  previously  issued  a  general  order, 
pointing  out  the  manner  in  which  the  men  should  be 
formed  in  the  event  of  an  attack  on  the  front  or  rear, 
or  on  the  flanks,  and  had  particularly  cautioned  the 
officers  to  halt  and  form  accordingly,  the  instant  the 
word  should  be  given. 


INDIAN    WARS.  211 

4 'The  front  guard  had  passed  with  part  of  the  flank 
columns,  the  wounded  were  over,  and  the  artillery  ir» 
the  act  of  entering  the  creek,  when  an  alarm  gun  was 
heard  in  the  rear.  I  heard  it  without  surprise  and 
even  with  pleasure,  calculating  with  the  utmost  con 
fidence  on  the  firmness  of  my  troops,  from  the  manner 
in  which  I  had  seen  them  act  on  the  twenty-second. 
I  had  placed  Col.  Carroll  at  the  head  of  the  centre 
column  of  the  rear  guard  ;  its  right  column  was  com 
manded  by  Col.  Stump.  Having  chosen  the  ground 
I  expected  there  to  have  entirely  cut  off  the  enemy, 
by  wheeling  the  right  and  left  columns  on  their  piv 
ots,  recrossing  the  creek  above  and  below,  and  falling 
in  upon  their  flanks  and  rear.  But  to  my  astonish 
ment  and  mortification,  when  the  word  was  given  by 
Colonel  Carroll  to  halt  and  form,  and  a  few  guns  had 
been  fired,  I  beheld  the  right  and  left  columns  of  the 
rear  guard  precipitately  give  way.  This  shameful 
retreat  was  disastrous  in  the  extreme;  it  drew  along 
with  it  the  greater  part  of  the  centre  column,  leaving 
not  more  than  25  men,  who  being  formed  by  Col. 
Carroll,  maintained  their  ground  as  long  as  it  was 
possible  to  maintain  it,  and  it  brought  consternation 
and  confusion  into  the  centre  of  the  army;  a  conster 
nation  which  was  not  easily  removed,  and  a  confusion 
which  could  not  soon  be  restored  to  order.  There  was 
then  left  to  repulse  the  enemy,  the  few  who  remained 
of  the  rear  guard,  the  artillery  company,  and  captain 
Russell's  company  of  spies.  They  however  realized 
and  exceeded  my  highest  expectations.  Lieut.  Arm 
strong,  who  commanded  the  artillery  company  in  the 
absence  of  Capt.  Deadriok, (confined  by  sickness,)  or 
dered  them  to  form  and  advance  to  the  top  of  the  hill, 
while  he  and  a  few  others  dragged  up  the  6  pounder. 
Never  was  more  bravery  displayed  than  on  this  oc- 
easion.  Amid  the  most  galling  fire  from  the  enemy, 
more  than  ten  times  their  number,  they  ascended  the 
hill  and  maintained  the*r  position  until  their  piece  was 
hauled  up,  when,  having  levelled  it?  they  poured  upon 


212  INDIAN  WARS, 

the  enemy  a  fire  of  grape  ;  reloaded  and  fired  again, 
charged  and  repulsed  them. 

Cc  The  most  deliberate  bravery  was  displayed  by 
Constantine  Perkins  and  Craven  Jackson,  of  the  ar 
tillery,  acting  as  gunners.  In  the  hurry  of  the  mo 
ment,  in  separating  the  gun  from  the  limbers,  the 
rammer  and  the  picker  of  the  cannon  were  left  tied  to 
the  limber.  No  sooner  was  this  discovered,  than  Jack 
son,  amidst  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  pulled  out  the  ram 
rod  of  his  musket  and  used  it  as  a  picker,  primed  with 
a  catridge  and  fired  the  cannon.  Perkins,  having 
pulled  off  his  bayonet,  used  his  musquet  as  a  rammer, 
drove  down  the  cartridge;  and  Jackson  using  his  for 
mer  plan,  again  discharged  her.  The  brave  Lieuten 
ant  Armstrong,  just  after  the  first  fire  of  the  cannon, 
with  Capt  Hamilton,  of  east  Tennessee,  Bradford  and 
M'Govock,  all  fell,  the  Lieutenant  exclaiming  as  he 
lay, 'my  brave  fellows,  some  of  you  may  fall,  but  you 
must  save  the  cannon.5  About  this  time,  a  number 
crossed  the  creek  and  entered  into  the  chase.  The 
brave  Capt.  Gordon,  of  the  spies,  who  had  rushed 
from  the  front,  endeavoured  to  turn  the  left  flank  of 
the  enemy,  in  which  he  partially  succeeded,  and  Col. 
Carrol,  Col.  Higgins,  and  Captains  Elliot  and  Pip 
kins,  pursued  the  enemy  for  more  than  two  miles  who 
fled  in  consternation,  throwing  away  their  packs,  and 
leaving  26  of  their  warriors  dead  on  the  field.  This 
last  defeat  was  decisive  and  we  were  no  more  dis 
turbed  by  their  yells.  I  should  do  injustice  to  my 
feelings,  if  I  ommitted  to  mention  the  venerable  Judge 
Cocke,  at  the  age  of  65,  entered  into  the  engagement, 
continued  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  with  youthful  ar 
dour,  and  saved  the  life  of  a  fellow  soldier,  by  killing 
his  savage  antagonist. 

"Our  loss  in  this  affair,  was  18  killed  and  wound 
ed;  among  the  former  was  the  brave  Capt.  Hamilton, 
from  east  Tennessee,  who  had,  with  his  aged  father, 
and  two  other  of  his  company,  after  the  period  of  his 
engagement  had  expired,  volunteered  his  services  for 


INBIAN    WARS.  213 

for  this  excursion,  and  attatched  himself  to  the  artil 
lery  company.  No  man  ever  fought  more  bravely  or 
died  more  gloriously  ;  and  by  his  side  fell  with  equal 
bravery  and  glory,  Bird  Evans,  of  the  same  company. 
Capt.  Quarles  who  commanded  the  centre  column  of 
the  rear  guard,  prefering  death  to  the  abandonment 
of  his  post,  having  taken  a  firm  stand  in  which  he 
was  followed  by  25  of  his  men,  received  a  wound  in 
his  head,  of  which  he  since  died. 

"  In  these  several  engagements,  our  loss  was  20 
killed  and  75  wounded,  4  of  whom  have  since  died. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  cannot  be  accurately  ascertain 
ed:  180:  of  their  warriors  were  found  dead  ;  but  this 
must  fall  considerably  short  of  the  number  really  kill* 
ed.  Their  wounded  can  only  be  guessed  at. 

uHad  it  not  been  for  the  unfortunate  retreat  of  the 
rear  guard,  in  the  affair  of  the  24th  inst.  I  think  I 
could  safely  have  said,  that  no  army  of  militia  ever 
acted  with  more  cool  and  deliberate  bravery  ;  undis 
ciplined  and  unexperienced  as  they  were,  their  con 
duct  in  the  several  engagements  of  the  22d,  could  not 
have  been  surpassed  by  regulars.  No  men  ever  met 
the  approach  of  the  enemy  with  more  intrepidity,  or 
repulsed  them  with  more  energy.  On  the  24th,  after 
the  retreat  of  the  rear  guard,  they  seemed  to  have  lost 
all  their  collectedness,  and  were  more  difficult  to  be 
restored  to  order  than  any  troops  I  have  ever  seen* 
But  this  was  no  doubt  in  a  great  measure,  or  alto 
gether  owing  to  that  very  retreat,  and  ought  rather 
to  be  ascribed  to  the  want  of  conduct  in  many  of  their 
officers,  than  to  only  cowardice  in  the  men,  who,  on_ 
every  occasion,  have  manifested  a  willingness  to  pep 
form  their  duty  as  far  as  they  knew  it. 

"All  the  effects  which  were  designed  to  be  produ^ 
ced  by  this  excursion,  it  is  believed  have  been  accom 
plished.  If  an  attack  was  meditated  against  fort 
Armstrong,  that  has  been  prevented.  If  Gen.  Floyd 
is  operating  on  the  east  side  of  the  Tallapoosa,  as  I 
suppose  him  to  be,  a  most  fortunate  diversion  has  been 
made  in  his  favour.  The  number  of  the  enemy  has 
28 


514  INDIAN  WARS. 

been  diminished,  and  the  confidence  they  may  have 
derived  from  the  delays  I  have  been  made  to  experi 
ence,  has  been  destroyed.     Discontent  has  been  kept 
out  of  my  army,  while   the   troops    who  would  have 
been  exposed  to  it,  have  been  beneficially  employed. 
The  enemy's  country  has  been  explored,  and  a  road 
cut  to  the  point  where   their   force  will  probably  be 
concentrated,  when  they   shall   be    driven  from  the 
country  below.     But  in  a  report  of  this  kind,  and  to 
you  who  will  immediately  perceive  them,  it  is  not  ne 
cessary  to  state  the  happy  consequences  which  may 
be  expected  to  result  from  this  excursion.     Unless  I 
am  greatly  mistaken,  it  will  be  found  to  have  hasten 
ed  the  termination  of  the  Creek  war,  more  than  any 
measure  I  could  have  taken  with  the  troops  under  my 
command." 


CHAP.  XVIII. 

CONCLUSION  OF  THE  GREEK  WAR,  BRILLIANT  VIC 
TORY  AT  THE  BEND  OF  THE  TALLAPOOSA,  &,C. 

General  Jackson,  determined  on  the  extermina 
tion  of  the  Creeks  for  their  atrocious  conduct,  on  the 
10th  of  March,  1814,  penetrated  as  far  as  the  bend  of 
the  Tallapoosa,  where  a  most  decisive  victory  was 
obtained,  and  the  destruction  of  the  nation  nearly  ac 
complished.  The  following  is  Gen.  Jackson- s  official 
account  of  the  brilliant  achievement,  in  a  letter  to 
his  Excellency  Governor  Blount. 

"Fort  Williams,  March  31,   1814. 

*'  Sir — I  have  just  returned  from  the  expedition 
which  I  advised  you  in  my  last  I  was  about  to  make, 
and  the  good  fortune  which  attended  it. 

"  I  took  up  the  line  of  march  from  this  place  on 
the  morning  of  the  21st  inst.  and  having  opened  a 
passage  of  52  miles  over  the  ridges  which  divide  the 
waters  of  the  two  rivers,  I  reached  the  bend  of  the 
Tallapoosa  three  miles  beyond  where  I  had  the  en 
gagement  of  the  22A  of  January,  and  at  the  southern 
extremity  of  New  Youea,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th. 
This  bend  resen?bles  in  a  curvature  that  of  a  horse 
shoe,  and  is  thence  called  by  that  name  among  the 
whites.  Nature  furnishes  few  stations  so  eligible 
for  defence,  and  barbarians  have  never  rendered  one 
more  secure  by  art.  Across  the  neck  of  the  bend 
which  leads  into  it  from  the  north,  they  had  erected  a 
breast- work  of  the  greatest  compactness  and  strength, 
eight  feet  high,  and  prepared  with  double  port-holes, 
very  artfully  arranged.  The  figure  of  this  wall  mani 
fested  no  less  skill  in  the  projection  of  it,  without  be 
ing  exposed  to  a  double  and  cross  fire  from  the  enemy 
who  lay  in  perfect  security  behind  it.  The  area  of 


216  INDIAN    WARS. 

this  peninsula,  thus  bounded  by  the  breast-work,  in 
cludes,  I  conjecture,  eighty  or  an  hundred  acres. 

"  In  this  bend,  the  warriors  from  Ockfuska,  Oake- 
hagu,  New  Youca,  Hillabeea,  the  Fish  Ponds,  and 
Kufatua  towns,  apprised  of  our  approach,  had  collect 
ed  their  strength.  The  exact  number  cannot  be  as 
certained  ;  but  it  is  said  by  the  prisoners  we  have 
taken,  to  have  been  a  thousand.  It  is  certain  they 
were  very  numerous,  and  that  relying  with  the  utmost 
confidence  upon  their  strength,  their  situation,  and  the 
assurances  of  their  prophets,  they  calculated  on  re 
pulsing  us  with  great  ease. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  having  encamp 
ed  the  preceding  night  at  the  distar.ee  of  five  miles 
from  them,  I  detailed  Gen  Coffee  with  the  mounted 
men  and  nearly  the  whole  of  the  Indian  force  to  cross 
the  river  at  a  foid  about  three  miles  below  their  en 
campment,  and  to  surround  the  bend  in  such  a  man 
ner  that  none  of  them  should  escape  by  attempting  to 
cross  the  river.  With  the  remainder  of  the  forces  I 
proceeded  along  the  point  of  land  which  leads  to  the 
front  of  their  breast-work;  and  at  half  past  10  o'clock 
A.  M.  I  had  planted  my  artillery  on  a  small  emi 
nence,  distant  from  its  nearest  point  about  83  yards, 
and  from  its  farthest  about  250  ;  from  whence  I  imme 
diately  opened  a  brisk  fire  upon  its  centre.  With  the 
musketry  and  rifles  I  kept  up  a  galling  fire  \vherever 
the  enemy  showed  themselves  behind  therr  works,  or 
ventured  to  approach  them.  This  was  continued  with 
occasional  intermissions  for  about  two  hours,  when 
Capt  Russell's  company  of  spies,  and  a  party  of  the 
Cherokees,  headed  by  their  gallant  chieftain,  Col. 
Richard  Brown,  and  conducted  by  the  brave  Colonel 
Morgan,  crossed  over  to  the  peninsula  in  canoes,  and 
set  fire  to  a  few  of  their  buildings  there  situated. 
They  then  advanced  with  great  gallantry  towards  the 
breast-work,  and  commenced  firing  upon  the  enemy 
who  lay  behind  it. 

"  Finding  that  this  force,  notwithstanding  the  de 
termination  that  they  displayed  was  wholly  insufficient 


INDIAN    WARS.  211 

to  dislodge  the  enemy,  and  that  Gen.  Coffee  had  se 
cured  the  opposite  banks  of  the  river,  I  now  deter 
mined  on  taking  possession  of  their  works  by  storm. 
IN  ever  were  men  better  disposed  for  such  an  under 
taking  than  those  by  whom  it  was  to  be  effected. 
They  had  entreated  to  be  led  to  the  charge  with  the 
most  pressing  importunity,  and  received  the  order 
which  was  now  given,  with  the  strongest  demonstra 
tions  of  joy.  The  effect  was  such  as  this  temper  of 
mind  foretold.  The  regular  troops,  led  on  by  their 
intrepid  and  skilful  commanders,  Col.  Williams  and 
Major  Montgomery,  were  presently  in  possession  of 
the  nearer  side  of  the  breast-work  ;  and  the  militia 
accompanied  them  in  the  charge  with  a  vivacity  and 
firmness  which  could  not  have  been  exceeded,  and  has 
seldom  been  equalled  by  troops  of  any  description.  A 
few  companies  of  Gen.  Dougherty's  brigade  on  the 
right,  were  led  on  with  gallantry  by  that  distinguished 
officer,  Col.  Russell  •  the  advance  guard  by  the  Adju 
tant  General,  Col.  Siller,  and  the  left  extremity  of 
the  line  by  Capt.  Gordon,  of  the  Spies,  and  Captain 
M' Murray,  of  Gen.  Johnson's  brigade,  of  West 
Tennessee  militia. 

fct  Having  maintained  for  a  few  minutes  a  very  ob 
stinate  contest,  musket  to  musket,  through  the  port 
holes  in  which  many  of  the  balls  were  welded  to  the 
bayonets  of  muskets,  our  troops  succeeded  in  gaining 
possession  of  the  opposite  side  of  the  works.  The 
event  could  no  longer  be  doubtful.  The  enemy,  al 
though  many  of  them  fought  to  the  last,  with  that 
kind  of  bravery  which  desperation  inspires,  were  at 
length  entirely  routed  and  cut  to  pieces.  The  whole 
margin  of  the  river  which  surrounds  the  peninsula  was 
strewed  with  the  slain.  Five  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
were  found  by  officers  of  great  respectability;  whom 
1  ordered  to  cou/it  them  ;  besides  a  great  number 
who  were  thrown  into  the  river,  or  killed  in  attempt 
ing  to  pass  it,  by  Gen.  Coffee's  men,  stationed  on  the 
opposite  banks.  Captain  Hammonds,  who  with  his 


215  INDIAN    WARS. 

company  of  spies  occupied  a  favourable  position  oppo 
site  the  upper  extremity  of  the  breast-work,  did  great 
execution;  and  so  did  Lieut.  Bean,  who  had  been  or 
dered  by  Gen.  Coffee  to  take  possession  of  a  small 
island  pointing  to  the  lower  extremity. 

"Both  officers  and  men,  who  had  the  best  opportu 
nities  of  judging,  believe  the  loss  of  the  enemy  in  kill 
ed,  not  far  short  of  800  ;  and  if  their  number  was 
great  as  it  is  represented  to  have  been  by  the  prison 
ers,  and  as  it  is  believed  to  have  been  by  Col.  Carroll 
and  others,  who  had  a  fair  view  of  them  as  they  ad 
vanced  to  the  breast- works,  their  loss  must  even  have 
been  more  considerable;  as  it  is  quite  certain  that  not 
more  than  twenty  can  have  escaped.  Among  the 
dead  was  found  their  famous  prophet  Monahell,  shot 
in  the  mouth  by  a  grape  shot,  as  if  Heaven  designed 
to  chastise  his  impostures  by  an  appropriate  punish 
ment.  Two  other  prophets  were  also  killed;  leaving 
no  others,  as  I  can  learn,  on  the  Tallapoosa.  I  la 
ment  that  two  or  three  women  and  children  were  kill 
ed  by  accident.  I  do  not  know  the  exact  number  of 
prisoners  taken,  but  it  must  exceed  300  ;  all  women 
and  children  except  three. 

"  The  battle  may  be  said  to  have  continued  with 
severity  for  about  five  hours  ;  but  the  firing  and 
slaughter  continued  until  it  was  suspended  by  the 
darkness  of  the  night.  The  next  morning  it  was  re 
sumed,  and  16  of  the  enemy  slain,  who  had  conceal 
ed  themselves  under  the  banks.  Our  loss  was  26 
white  men  killed,  and  107  wounded  ;  Cherokees,  IS 
killed  and  36  wounded  ;  friendly  Creeks,  5  killed 
and  11  wounded. 

"  The  loss  of  Col.  Williams'  regiment  of  regulars 
is  17  killed  and  55  wounded  ;  three  of  whom  have 
since  died.  Among  the  former  were  Major  Montgo 
mery,  Lieut.  Somerville  and  Lieut.  Moulton,  who 
fell  in  the  charge  which  was  made  on  the  works. 
No  men*  ever  acted  more  gallantly,  or  fell  more  glori 
ously. 


INDIAN  WARS.  219 

u  In  a  few  days  I  shall  take  up  the  line  of  march 
for  the  Hickory  ground,  and  have  every  thing  to  hope 
from  such  troops. 

^'Enclosed  I  send  you  Gen.  Coffee's  original  report. 

"I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect,  your 
obedient  humble  servant, 

ANDREW  JACKSON,  Maj.  Gen." 

Report  from  Gen.  Coffee   to   Gen.   Jackson,  dated 

April  1, 

<4Sir — Agreeably  to  your  order  of  the  27th  ult.  I 
took  up  the  line  of  march  at  half  past  6  o'clock,  A.M. 
of  the  same  day,  with  a  detachment  of  700  cavalry 
and  mounted  gunmen,  and  about  600  Indians,  500* 
of  which  were  Cherokees,  and  the  balance  friendly 
Creeks.  I  crossed  the  Tallapoosa  river  at  the  little 
island  ford,  about  three  miles  below  the  bend,  in 
which  the  enemy  had  concentrated  ;  and  then  turned 
up  the  river,  bearing  away  from  its  cliffs.  When  with 
in  half  a  mile  of  the  village  the  savage  yell  was  rais 
ed  by  the  enemy,  and  I  suppose  they  had  discovered 
and  were  about  to  attack  me.  I  immediately  drew 
up  my  forces  in  line  of  battle  in  an  open,  hilly  wood- 
land,  and  in  that  position  moved  on  towards  the  yell 
ing  of  the  enemy.  Previous  to  this,  I  had  ordered 
the  Indians,  on  our  approach  to  the  bend  of  the  river, 
to  advance  secretly  and  take  possession  of  the  bank  of 
the  river,  and  prevent  the  enemy  from  crossing  on  the 
approach  of  our  army  in  their  front.  When  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  river,  firing  of  our  cannon 
commenced,  when  the  Indians  with  me  immediately 
rushed  forward  with  great  impetuosity  to  the  river 
bank.  My  line  was  halted  and  put  in  order  of  battle 
expecting  an  attack  on  our  rear  from  Oakfuskee  vil 
lage,  which  lay  down  the  river,  about  eight  miles  be 
low  us.  The  firing  of  our  cannon  and  small  arms  in  a 
short  time  became  general  and  heavy,  which  animated 
our  Indians,  and  seeing  about  100  of  the  warriors  and 
all  the  squaws  and  children  of  the  enemy  running 
about  among  the  huts  of  the  village,  which  was  open 


220  INDIAN    WARS. 

to  our  view,  they  could  no  longer  remain  silent  spec 
tators,  while  some  kept  up  a  fire  across  the  river, 
(which  is  about  120  yards  wide)  to  prevent  the  ene 
my's  approach  to  the  bank.  Others  plunged  into  the 
water  and  swam  the  river  for  canoes  that  lay  at  the 
other  shore  in  considerable  numbers,  and  brought 
themjover;  in  which  crafts  a  number  of  them  embark 
ed,  and  landed  on  the  bend  with  the  enemy.  Col. 
Gideon  Morgan,  who  commanded  the  Cherokees  ; 
Capt.  Geer  and  Capt.  William  Russell,  with  a  part  of 
his  company  of  spies,  were  among  the  first  that  cross 
ed  the  river.  From  the  huts  up  the  river  bank,  to  the 
fortified  works  from  which  they  were  lighting,  they 
pursued  and  continued  to  annoy,  during  the  whole 
action.  This  movement  of  our  Indian  forces  left  the 
river  bank  unguarded,  and  made  it  necessary  that  I 
should  send  a  party  of  my  line  to  take  possession  of 
the  river  bank.  I  accordingly  ordered  about  one  third 
of  the  men  to  be  posted  around  the  bend  of  the  river 
bank,  while  the  balance  remained  in  line,  to  protect 
our  rear.  I  ordered  Lieut.  Bean  to  take  possession 
of  the  island  below,  with  49  men,  to  prevent  the  ene 
my's  taking  refuge  there,  which  was  executed  with 
promptitude,  and  which  had  a  very  happy  effect. 
From  the  report' of  my  officers,  as  well  as  from  my 
own  observation,  I  feel  warranted  in  saying  that  from 
250  to  300  of  the  enemy  were  buried  under  water, 
and  were  numbered  with  the  dead  that  were  found." 

TERMINATION  OF  HOSTILITIES  WITH  THE  CREEKS. 

The  brilliant  and  decisive  victories  obtained  by 
Gen.  Jackson  and  his  brave  men,  over  the  Creeks,  in 
duced  many  of  those  who  survived,  to  surrender  and 
sue  for  peace.  A.  few  of  them  however,  otherwise 
disposed,  fled  toward  Pensacola,  before  the  arrival  of 
the  General  at  Tallapoosa.  Of  these  few,  notice  will 
be  taken  in  the  succeeding  chapter.  Many  of  the 
runaway  negroes,  who  were  captured  at  Fort  Mim?5 


INDIAN  WAIIS. 

were  restored  to  their  masters,   and  an  unfortunate 
white  female  captive,  Polly  Jones,  who  with  her  two 
children   had   been   taken    prisoners  by  the   Indians, 
were  released  and  restored    to   their   friends.     The 
Tallapoosa  and  Tostahatchee  kings  were  taken  pris 
oners, as  was  Peter  M'Quin,  a  distinguished  chief,  but 
he  unfortunately  afterwards  made  his  escape.     Hillin- 
hagee,  their  great  prophet,  fled  with  the  fugitives  to 
wards  Pensacola.      Weatherford  their  speaker,  and 
who  through  the  war  had  been   one  of  the   most,  ac 
tive  and  enterprising  chiefs,  conceiving  it  in  vain  any 
longer  to  resist,  and  being  informed  that  Gen.  Jackson 
intended,  if  he  could   take  him,  to  put  him  to  death, 
he  was  advised  by  his  friends,  as  his  warriors  were  al 
most  all  slain,  as  his  country  was  ruined,  and   his 
escape    almost    impracticable,  to  surrender    himself 
to  the  General ;  that  it  was  useless  to  attempt  further 
resistance  ;  and  this   was  the  only  means  by  .which 
his   life    could  be  saved.       Weatherford  determined 
so  to  do,  and  presented   himself  to  Gen.  Jackson  at 
his  quarters,  by  whom  it  was  demanded  of  him  who 
he  was,  and  how  he  came  there.      He  replied,   "  my 
name  is  Weatherford,  one  of  the  Chiefs  of  th6  Red 
sticks.     I  have  fought  you  till  my  warriors-  are  all 
slain.      If  I  had  warriors  I  would  fight  you  still  ;  but 
I  have  none.     My  country  is  overrun,  and  my  soldiers 
are  fallen.     Here  am  in  your  power;  do  with  me  as 
you  please  ;  only  recollect  that  I  am  a  soldier  ! "   The 
patriotic  speech  of  this  distinguished  chief  had  its  de 
sired  effect.     Gen  Jackson  declined  to  consider   him 
even  a  prisoner  of  war.      Weatherford,  although  as 
bold  and  intrepid  as  a  lion,  had   been  many  times  de 
feated  by  his  enemies.     In  1813  a  formidable  body  of 
volunteers   from  the  Mississippi  Territory,  who  had 
been  raised  for  the  express  purpsse  of  protecting  the 
defenceless  inhabitants  on  the  frontiers,  marched  un 
der  command  of   Gen.    Claiborne,  against    some    of 
the  towns  inhabited  by  the  hostile  Creeks  on  the  Ala 
bama  river.      A  detachment  of  the  troops  under  com 
mand  of  Col.  Carson,  on  approaching  a  town  called 
29 


222  INDIAN   WAltS. 

Eccanacliaca,  was  suddenly  and  vigorously  attacked 
by  the  enemy.  Weatherford  commanded  the  Indians 
and  fought  with  his  usual  bravery.  He  was,  however, 
routed  and  completely  defeated  by  the  detachment, 
before  the  remainder  of  the  troops  had  time  to  arrive. 
The  enemy  threw  away  their  arms  and  fled  in  every 
direction.  Thirty  were  killed  and  double  that  num 
ber  probably  wounded.  Col.  Garson  lost  but  one 
killed,  and  five  wounded.  A  pursuit  was  ordered,  but 
with  very  little  success.  A  large  quantity  of  provis 
ions  and  other  valuable  property  was  found  in  their 
town,  which  the  Indians  in  their  precipitate  flight 
were  obliged  to  leave  behind,  and  which  with  their 
houses  (200  in  number)  were  destroyed.  After  the 
commencement  of  hostilities,- -the  town  was  rebuilt> 
and  was  established  as  a  place  of  security  for  the 
Creeks  of  several  of  the  adjacent  villages.  It  was 
Weatherford's  place  of  residence  In  this  house  was 
founds  letter  from  the  Governor  of  Pensacola  to  the 
Creeks,  expressing  the  friendship  which  the  Spaniards 
entertained  for  them,  and  the  hostility  of  the  former 
towards  "the  Americans. 

Gen.  Jackson,  after  having  made  known  to  the  sur 
viving  Creeks  the  terms  upon  which  he  was  author 
ized  to  make  peace,  in  the  latter  part  of  April  with 
drew  his  forces  from  the  Creek  country.  The  terms 
offered  them  were  ;  That  the  United  States  were  to 
retain  as  much  of  the  conquered  territory  as  would 
idemnify  them  for  the  expenses  of  the  war,  and  as  a 
retribution  for  the  injuries  sustained  by  its  citizens, and 
such  of  the  Creeks  as  had  remained  on  friendly  terms 
with  them  during  the  war.  The  United  States  were 
to  establish  whatever  military  posts  and  trading 
houses  they  should  think  proper,  and  to  have  the  free 
navigation  of  the  rivers  and  water  courses  throughout 
the  Creek  country.  The  Creeks  were  to  surrender 
their  prophets,  and  other  chiefs  who  remained,  or 
who  should  thereafter  prove  sensible  to  the  interest 
and  welfare  of  the  States.  The  Tollissee  king  of 
whom  we  have  made  frequent  ment\on;  and  who  was 


INDIAN    WARS.  223 

supposed  to  have  been  killed  in  one  of  Gen.  Floyd's 
engagements  with  the  Creaks,  surrendered  himself  a 
prisoner  to  the  Americans.  He  w«s  upwards  of  a 
hundred  years  of  age,  with  a  head  as  white  as  snow, 
and  had  been  regarded  by  the  enemy  as  a  very  great 
prophet.  The  friendly  Greeks  viewed  him  as  their 
most  inveterate  enemy,  and  although  nearly  bent 
double  with  age,  they  were  anxious  to  put  him  to 
death,  and  would  have  done  so  had  it  not  been  for 
tfce  interposition  of  the  American  officers. 


CHAP.   XIX. 

SEMINOLE  WAR,  PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS, &C. 

The  Crook  war  happily  terminating  in  the  spring  of 
1814,  and  a  treaty  of  peace  having  been  mutually  con 
cluded  upon  between  the  surviving  chiefs  of  that  na 
tion  and  commissioners  appointed  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States,  but  little  opposition  was  then  appre 
hended  from  the  fugitives  who  had  fled  towards  Pen- 
sacola,  and  who  remained  hostile  to  the  interest  of  the 
Americans.  But  contrary  to  the  expectations  of  our 
government,  it  was  soon  after  discovered  that  these 
Indians  had  sought  refuge  among  the  different  savage 
tribes  living  within  and  on  the  borders  of  the  Floridas, 
denominated  Seminole  Indians,  who  it  was  suspected 
cherished  feelings  of  hostility  to  the  United  States. 
This  fact  having  been  ascertained,  the  executive  de 
partment  of  the  government  deemed  it  necessary,  for 
the  security  of  the  frontier,  to  establish  a  line  of  forts 
near  the  southern  boundary  of  the  United  States,  and 
occupy  those  fortifications  with  portions  of  the  reg 
ular  forces,  and  by  this  means  peace  was  maintained 
with  the  Indians  until  the  spring  or  summer  of  1S17, 
when  the  regular  forces  were  withdrawn  from  the 
posts  on  the  Georgia  frontier,  and  concentrated  at  fort 
Montgomery,  OH  the  Alabama  river,  a  considerable 
distance  west  of  the  Georgia  line.  But  it  seems  that 
.about  this  time  a  border  war-fare  was  commenced  be 
tween  the  Seminole  Indians  and  the  frontier  inhabi 
tants  of  Georgia.  Many  horrid  barbarities  are  said 
to  have  been  perpetrated  by  the  former;  some  of  which 
it  may  not  be  improper  here  to  mention.  The  house 
of  a  Mr.  Garrett,  residing  near  the  boundary  of 
Wayne  county,  was  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians 
during  his  absence.  They  shot  Mrs.  Garrett  in 
two  places,  and  despatched  her  by  stabbing  and 
scalping. ^Her  two  children,  one  about  three  years 


INDIAN   WARS.  225 

and  the  other  two  months  old  were  also  murdered, 
and  the  eldest  scalped.  The  house  was  then  plun 
dered  of  every  article  of  value,  and  set  on  fire  !  A 
boat  soon  after  ascending  the  Alabama  river,  con 
taining  thirty  men,  seven  women  and  four  small  chil 
dren  was  captured  by  the  Indjans.  Six  of  the  men 
escaped,  one  woman  taken  captive  and  the  remainder 
inhumanly  butchered.  The  children  were  taken  by 
the  leg  and  their  brains  dashed  out  against  the 
boat !  ! 

Duncan  M'Krimmon,  (a  resident  of  Milledgeville,a 
Georgia  militia  man,  stationed  at  fort  Gadsden)  being 
out  one  morning  on  a  fishing  excursion,  in  attempting 
to  return  missed  his  way,  and  was  several  days  lost 
in  the  surrounding  wilderness.  After  wandering  about 
in  various  directions  he  was  espied  and  captured  by  a 
party, of  hostile  Indians,  headed  by  the  well  known 
prophet  Francis.  The  Indians  having  obtained  the 
satisfaction  they  wanted  respecting  the  determination 
of  government,  the  position  of  the  American  army, 
&c.  they  began  to  prepare  for  the  intended  sacrifice. 
M'Krimmon  was  bound  to  a  stake,  and  the  ruthless 
savages  having  shaved  his  head  and  reduced  his  body 
to  a  state  of  nudity,  formed  themselves  into  a  circle 
and  danced  round  him  some  hours,  yelling  most  hor 
ribly.  The  youngest  daughter  of  the  prophet,  about 
fifteen  years  of  age,  remained  sad  and  silent  the  whole 
time.  She  participated  not  in  the  general  joy,  but 
was  evidently,  even  to  the  affrighted  prisoner,  much 
pained  at  the  savage  scene  she  was  compelled  to  wit 
ness.  When  the  burning  torches  were  about  to  be 
applied  to  the  faggots  which  encompassed  the  prison 
er,  and  the  fatal  tomahawk  was  raised  to  terminate 
forever  his  mortal  existence,  JVIilly  Francis,  (for  that 
was  her  name)  like  an  angel  of  mercy,  placed  herself 
between  it  and  death,  resolutely  bidding  the  astonished 
.executioner,  if  he  thirsted  for  human  blood,  to  shed 
hers  ;  being  determined,  she  said,  not  to  survive  the 
prisoner's  death.  A  momentary  pause  was  produced 
by  this  enexpected  occurrence,  and  she  took  advant- 


2S6  INDIAN   WARS, 

age  of  the  circumstance  to  implore'upon  her  knees  the 
pity  of  her  ferocious  father,  who  finally  yielded  to  her 
wishes;  with  the  intention,  however,  it  is  suspected, 
.of  murdering  them  both,  if  he  could  not  sell  M'Krim- 
mon  to  the  Spaniards;  which  was  luckily  effected  a  few 
days  after  at  St.  Marks,  for  seven  gallons  and  a  half 
of  rum.  As  long  as  APKrimmon  remained  a  prisoner 
his  benefactress  continued  to  show  him  acts  of  kind 
ness.  The  fortune  of  war  has  since  placed  her,  as  we 
shall  hereafter  have  occasion  to  notice,  in  the  power 
of  the  white  people,  being  compelled,  with  a  number 
of  others  of  her  tribe  who  were  in  a  starving  condition 
to  surrender  themselves  prisoners.  As  soon  asrthis 
fact  was  known  to  M'Krimmon,  in  manifestation  of  a 
due  sense  of  the  obligation  which  he  owed  to  the  wo 
man  who  saved  his  life,  at  the  hazard  of  her  own,  he 
sought  her  to  alleviate  her  misfortune,  and  to  offerfcher 
marriage;  but  Milly  would  not  consent  to  become  his 
wife  as  a  consideration  of  having  saved  his  life,  de 
claring  that  she  did  no  more  than  her  duty  and  that 
her  intercessions  were  the  same  as  they  would  ever 
have  been  on  similar  occasions. 

But  to  return.  In  these  frequent  outrages  commit 
ted  upon  the  frontiers,  it  was  somewhat  difficult  to  de 
termine  who  were  the  first  aggressors,  or  on  whom 
the. greatest  injuries  were  inflicted.  Gen.  Gaines, 
however,  demanded  a  surrender  of  the  Indians,  who 
had  committed  depredations  on  the  frontier  of  Geor 
gia.  With  this  demand  they  refused  to  comply,  alleg 
ing  that  the  first  and  greatest  aggressions  had  been 
mads  by  the  white  men. 

In  consequence  of  this  refusal  G en. f  Gaines  was 
authorized  by  the  Secretary  of  war,  at  his  discretion, 
to  remove  the  Indians  still  remaining  on  the  lands 
ceded  to  the  United  States  by  the  treaty  made  with 
the  Creeks,  In  so  doing  he  was  told  that  it  might  be 
proper  to  retain  some  of  them  as  hostages,  until  re 
paration  was  made  for  depredations  committed  by  the 
Indians.  In  pursuance  of  this  discretionary  authority 
:.Qen.  Gaines  ordered  a  detatchment  of  near  300  men, 


INDIAN   WARS. 


221 


under  the  commannd  of  Major  Triggs,  to  surround  and 
take  an  Indian  village  called  Fowl  Town,  about  14 
miles  from  fort  Scott,  and  near  the  Florida  line.  The 
detachment  arrived  at  Fowl  Town  in  the  night,  and 
the  Indians,  taking  the  alarm,  and  flying  to  an  adjacent 
swamp  were  fired  on  by  the  detachment,  when  one 
man  and  one  woman  were  killed  and  two  Indians  made 
prisoners.  The  detachment  returned  to  fort  Scott. 
A  day  or  two  afterwards,  as  stated  by  Capt.  M'ln- 
tosh,  who  was  of  the  party,  about  the  same  number  of 
troops  paid  a  second  visit  to  the  same  village,  for  the? 
purpose  of  obtaining  property.  While  loading  their 
wagons  with  corn,  and  collecting  horses  and  cattle, 
they  were  fired  on  by  the  Indians,  and  a  skirmish  en 
sued,  in  which  a  small  loss  was  sustained  on  both  sides. 
It  was  stated  by  Capt.  Youug  the  typographical  en 
gineer,  that  this  town  contained  45  Indian  Warriors^- 
besides  women  and  children. 

From  this  time  the  war  became  more  serious.  The' 
Indians  in  considerable  numbers  were  embodied,  and 
open  attack  was  made  on  fort  Scott.  Gen.  Gaines 
with  about  600  regular  soldiers,  was  confined  to  the* 
garrison.  In  this  state  of  things,  information  having- 
been  communicated  to  the  War  Department,  Gen. 
Jackson  was  ordered  to  take  the  field.  He  was  put 
in  command  of  the  regular  and  militia  force,  amount 
ing  to  1800  men,  provided  for  that  service  ;  and  di 
rected,  if  he  should  consider  the  force  provided  in-" 
sufficient  to  beat  the  enemy  (whose  force  was  esti 
mated  by  Gen.  Gaines  at  2800  strong)  to  call  on  the' 
Governors  of  the  adjoining  states  for  such  portions  of 
the  militia  as  he  might  think  requisite.  On  the  re 
ceipt  of  this  order  Gen.  Jackson,  instead  of  observing 
the  orders  of  the  Department  of  War,  by  calling  on' 
the  Governor  of  Tennessee,  then  in  Nashville,  near 
the  place  of  his  residence,  chose  to  appeal  (to  use  his 
own  expressions)  to  the  patriotism  of  the  West  Ten- 
nesseans,  who  had  served  under  him  in  the  last  war. 
One  thousand  mounted  gun-men,  and  two  companies 
of  what  were  called  life-guards,  with  the  utmost  alac- 


$23  INDIAN    WARS. 

rity,  volunteered  their  services  from  the  states  of  Ten 
nessee  and  Kentucky,  and  repaired  to  his  standard. 
Officers  were  appointed  to  command  this  corps  by  the 
General  himself,  or  by  other  persons,  acting  under  his 
authority.  Thus  organized,  they  were  mustered  into 
the  service  of  the  United  States. 

About  the  time  Gen.  Jackson  was  organizing  this 
detachment  of  volunteers,  in  the  state  of  Tennessee,  or 
previous  thereto,  Gen.  Gaines  was  likewise  employed 
in  raising  forces  among  the  Creek  Indians.  There 
was  this  difference  in  the  two  cases,  Gen.  Jackson 
raised  his  army  in  disregard  of  positive  orders  ;  Gen. 
Gaines,  without  orders,  took  upon  himself  the  author 
ity  of  raising  an  army  of  at  least  1600  Creek  Indians, 
appointing  their  officers,  with  a  Brigadier  General 
at  their  head^  and  likewise  mustering  this  force  into 
the  service  of  the  United  States. 

It  appears  that  Gen.  Jackson  advanced  into  Florida 
with  a  force  of  1800  men,  composed  of  regulars,  vol 
unteers,  and  the  Georgia  militia  ;  and  afterwards,  on 
the  1st  day  of  April,  was  joined  by  Gen.  iVPIntosh  and 
his  Brigade  of  1600  Indians,  who  had  been  previously 
Organized  by  Gen.  Gaines.  Opposed  to  whom,  it  ap 
pears,  from  the  report  of  Capt  Young,  topographical 
engineer  and  other  evidence,  the  whole  forces  of  the 
fugitive  Seminole  Indians  and  runaway  negroes,  had 
they  all  been  embodied,  could  not  have  exceeded  900 
or  1000  men,  and  at  no  time  did  half  that  number 
present  themselves  to  oppose  his  march.  Of  course 
little  or  no  resistance  was  made. 

The  Miskasmusky  towns  were  first  taken  and 
destroyed.  The  army  marched  upon  St.  Marks,  a 
feeble  Spanish  garrison,  which  surrendered  without 
firing  a  gun,  and  was  then  occupied  as  an  American 
post,  the  Spanish  commandant  having  first  by  hum 
ble  entreaties,  and  then  by  a  timid  protest,  endeav 
oured  to  avert  the  measure.  Here  Alexander  Ar- 
burthnot  was  found,  taken  prisoner,  and  put  in  con- 
ffnement,  for  the  purpose,  as  it  was  stated  by  Gen. 
Jackson,  "of  collecting  evidence  to  establish  his 


INDIAN    WARS.  229 

guilt  ;  and  here  also  were  taken  two  Indian  chiefs, 
one  of  whom  pretended  to  possess  the  spirit  of 
prophecy  ;  they  were  hung  without  trial  and  with 
out  ceremony.  Francis,  who  by  the  entreaties  of 
his  daughter,  was  persuaded  to  spare  the  life  of 
IVPKrimmon,  a  captive,  was  the  prophet  above  allud 
ed  to. 

This  being  done,  and  St.  Marks  garrisoned  with 
American  troops,  the  army  pursued  their  march 
eastward  to  Suwaney  river  on  which  they  found  a 
large  Indian  village,  which  was  consumed,  and  tHe 
Indians  and  negroes  were  dispersed  ;  after  which  the 
army  returned  to  St.  Marks,  bringing  with  them 
Robert  C.  Arnbrister,  who  had  been  taken  prisoner 
on  their  march  to  Suwaney. 

During  the  halt  of  the  army  for  a  few  days  at  St. 
Marks,  a  general  court  martial  was  called  ;  Arburth- 
not  was  arrainged,  found  guilty,  sentenced  to  suffer 
death  and  was  hung. 

Ambrister  was  tried  in  like  manner,  found  guilty, 
and  sentenced  to  whipping  and  confinement.  Gen. 
Jackson  annulled  the  sentence,  and  ordered  him  to  be 
shot,  and  this  order  was  executed. 

Without  additional  preliminary  remarks  we  shall 
now  proceed  to  furnish  our  readers  with  such  official 
accounts  of  the  commencement  and  progress  of  the 
war  with  the  Seminoles,  as  have  been  communicated 
to  government,  by  the  commanding  officers. 

WAR     DEPARTMENT    TO    MAJOR   GENERAL    GAINBS* 

EXTRACT  OF  A    LETTER  FROM    GEORGE  GRAHAM,  ACTING 
SECRETARY  OF  WAR,  TO  GEN.  GAINES,  OCT. -30,  1817. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  letter  of  the  1st.  inst.  covering  a  copy  of  the  re 
ply  which  was  made  by  ten  of  the  Seminole  towns5 
to  the  demand  made  by  you  on  them,  for  the  surren 
der  of  the  murderers  of  some  of  our  citizens. 

u  The  papers  have  been  submitted  to  the  Presi- 
dentj  and  I  am  instructed  by  him  to  inform  you,  that 
30 


230  INDIAN   WARS. 

he  approves  of  the  movement  of  the  troops  from 
fort  Montgomery  to  fort  Scott.  The  appearance  of 
this  additional  force,  he  flatters  himself,  will  at  least 
have  the  effect  of  restraining  the  Seminoles  from  com 
mitting  further  depredations,  and  perhaps  of  induc 
ing  them  to  make  reparation  for  the  murders  which 
they  have  committed.  Should  they,  however,  perse 
vere  in  their  refusal  to  make  such  reparation,  it  is 
the  wish  of  the  President  that  you  should  not,  on  that 
account,  pass  the  line,  and  make  an  attack  upon  them 
within  the  limits  of  Florida,  until  you  shall  have  re 
ceived  further  instructions  from  this  Department. 
You  are  authorized  to  remove  the  Indians  still  re 
maining  on  the  lands  ceded  by  the  treaty  made  by 
Gen.  Jackson  with  the  Greeks  ;  and  in  doing  so,  it 
may  be  proper  to  retain  some  of  them  as  hostages, 
until  reparation  may  have  been  made  for  the  depre 
dations  which  have  been  committed.  On  this  sub 
ject,  however,  as  well  as  the  manner  of  removing 
them,  you  will  exercise  your  discretion.  M'Intosh 
and  the  other  chiefs  of  the  Creek  nation,  who  were 
here  some  time  since,  expressed  then,  deciedly, 
their  unwillingness  to  permit  any  of  the  hostile  In 
dians  to  return  to  their  .nation. 

"  P.  S.  The  authority  to  remove  the  Indians  will, 
of  course  not  extend  to  those  Indians  and  their  fam 
ilies,  who  have  claims  to  reservations  of  land  under 
the  treaty." 

Copy  of  another  letter  from  the  same  to  the  same,  dated 
December?,  1817. 

«  Sir — Your  letter  of  the  9th  ult.  advising  of  the 
call  on  the  Governor  of  Georgia,  to  assemble  the 
auxiliary  force,  which  had  been  previously  required 
by  you  at  fort  Hawkins,  on  the  £t>th  ultimo,  has  been 
received. 

"  It  is  hoped  that  the  letter  addressed  to  you  from 
this  department  on  the  30th  October,  will  have  been 
received  ;  and  that  you  will  confine  your  operations 


WARS. 

to  the  objects  stated  in  that  communication,  and  to 
such  a  disposition  of  the  rugular  force  under  your 
command  as  will  deter  the  Seminole  Indians  from 
making  further  depredations  on  the  frontiers  of 
Georgia. 

"  The  state  of  our  negotiation  with  Spain,  and  the 
temper  manifested  by  the  principal  European  powers, 
make  it  impolitic,  in  the  opinion  of  the  President,  to 
move  a  force  at  this  time  into  the  Spanish  posses 
sions,  for  the  mere  purpose  of  chastising  the  Semi- 
noles  for  depredations  which  have  heretofore  been 
committed  by  them." 

GEN.  E.  P.  GAINES,  TO  THE  WAR  DEPARTMENT. 

<(  Head-Quarters,  Fort  Scott,  Dec.  1.  1817. 

"Sir — I  had  the  honour  to  receive,  on  the  26th 
ultimo,  your  communication  of  the  30th  October.  I 
am  very  happy  to  find  that  the  President  approves  of 
my  movement,  but  I  much  regret  that  his  just  expec 
tations,  as  to  the  effect  there  was  reason  to  be 
lieve  would  be  produced  on  the  minds  of  the  Indians 
by  this  movement,  have  not  been  realized.  I  am 
now  quite  convinced  that  the  hostility  of  these  In 
dians  is,  and  has  long  since  been  of  so  deep  a  charac 
ter  as  to  leave  no  ground  to  calculate  upon  tranquillity, 
or  the  future  security  of  our  frontier  settlements,  until 
the  towns  south  and  east  of  this  place  shall  receive 
a  signal  proof  of  our  ability  and  willingness  to  retal 
iate  for  every  outrage.  It  is  now  my  painful  duty  to 
report  an  affair  of  a  more  serious  nature  than  has 
heretofore  occurred,  and  which  leaves  no  doubt  of 
the  necessity  of  an  immediate  application  of  force, 
and  active  measures  on  our  part.  A  large  party  of 
Seminole  Indians,  on  the  30th  ult.  formed  an  ambus 
cade  upon  the  Appalochicola  river,  a  mile  below  the 
junction  ,of  the  Flint  and  Chatahooehie,  attacked  one 
of  our  boats  ascending  near  the  shore,  and  killed, 
wounded  and  took  the  greater  part  of  the  detach- 


232  INDIAN     WARS. 

ment  consisting  of  40  men,  commanded  by  Lieut,  R. 
W.  Scott,  of  the  7th  infantry.  There  were  also  on 
board,  killed  or  taken,  7  women,  the  wives  of  soldiers. 
Six  men' of  the  detachment  only  escaped,  four  of 
whom  were  wounded.  They  report  that  the  strength 
of  the  current  at  that  point  of  attack  had  obliged  the 
Lieutenant  to  keep  his  boat  near  the  shore  ;  that  the 
Indians  had  formed  along  the  bank  of  the  river,  and 
were  not  discovered  until  their  fire  had  commenced  ; 
in  the  first  volley  of  which  Lieut.  Scott  and  his  most 
valuable  men  fell. 

"  The  Lieutenant  and  his  party  had  been  sent 
from  this  place,  some  days  before,  to  assist  Major 
Muhlenberg  in  ascending  the  river  with  three  vessels 
laden  with  military  stores,  brought  from  Montgomery 
and  Mobile.  The  Major,  instead  of  retaining  the 
party  to  assist  him,  as  I  had  advised,  retained  only 
about  20  men,  and  in  their  place  put  a  like  number 
of  sick,  with  the  women  and  regimental  clothing. 
The  boat,  thus  laden,  was  detached  alone  for  this 
place.  It  is  due  to  Major  Muhlenberg,  to  observe,  that 
at  the  time  he  detached  the  boat,  I  have  reason  to  be 
lieve  he  was  not  apprized  of  any  recent  hostilities 
having  taken  place  in  this  quarter.  It  appears,  how 
ever,  from  Lieutenant  Scott's  letter  received  about 
the  hour  in  which  he  was  attacked,  that  he  had  been 
warned  of  the  danger.  Upon  the  receipt  of  this  let 
ter  I  had  two  boats  fitted  out  with  covers  avid  port 
holes,  for  defence,  and  detached  Capt.  Clinch  with 
an  officer  and  40  men  with  an  order  to  secure  the 
movement  of  Lieut.  Scott,  and  then  to  assist  Major 
Muhlenberg. 

"  The  detachment  embarked  late  in  the  evening  of 
the  30th,  and  must  have  passed  the  scene  of  action 
below  at  night,  and  some  hours  after  the  affair  ter 
minated.  I  have  not  yet  heard  from  Capt.  Clinch 
under  Major  Muhlenberg  with  another  boat,  secured 
against  the  enemy's  fire.  He  will,  therefore,  move 
up  with  safety,  keeping  near  the  middle  of  the  river. 
J  shall  moreover  take  a  position,  with  my  principal 


INDIAN  WARS.  233 

force,  at  the  junction  of  the  river,  near  the  line,  and 
shall  attack  any  vessel  that  may  attempt  to  intercept 
our  vessel  and  supplies  below,  as  I  feel  persuaded 
the  order  of  the  President  prohibiting  an  attack  up 
on  the  Indians  below  the  line,  has  reference  to  the 
past  and  not  to  the  present  or  future  outrages,  such 
as  shall  place  our  troops  strictly  within  the  pale  of 
natural  law,  where  self-defence  is  sanctioned  by  the 
privilege  of  self-preservation.  The  wounded  men 
who  made  their  escape,  concur  in  their  opinion,  that 
they  had  seen  upwards  of  500  hostile  Indian  warriors 
at  different  places  below  the  point  ;  of  the  force  en* 
gaged,  they  differ  in  opinion,  but  all  agree  that  the 
number  was  very  considerable,  extending  about  150 
yards  along  the  shore,  in  the  edge  of  a  swamp  or 
thick  woods.  I  am  assured  by  the  friendly  chiefs, 
that  the  hostile  warriors  of  every  town  upon  the 
Chatahoochie  prepared  canoes,  and  pushed  off  down 
the  river  to  join  the  Seminoles,  as  soon  as  the  ac 
count  of  my  movement  from  the  Alabama  reached 
them. 

"  The  Indians  now  remaining  upon  the  Chatahoo- 
chie,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  are  well  disposed. 
One  of  the  new  settlers,  however,  has  recently  been 
killed,  but  it  has  been  clearly  proved,  that  the  mur 
derer  had  belonged  to  the  hostile  party.  The 
friendly  chiefs  in  the  neighborhood,  when  apprised 
of  the  murder,  assembled  a  party,  and  sent  in  pursuit 
of  the  offender,  and  followed  him  to  Flint  river  on  the 
route  to  Mickasukee,  whither  he  escaped.  Onishajo 
and  several  other  friendly  chiefs,  have  offered  me 
their  services,  with  their  warriors,  to  go  against  the 
Seminoles.  I  have  promised  to  give  them  notice  of 
the  time  that  may  be  fixed  for  my  departure,  and 
then  to  accept  their  services.  The  enclosure  No.  1, 
contains  the  substance  of  what  I  have  said  to  the 
chiefs  who  have  visited  me,  several  of  whom  reside 
south  of  the  Spanish  line,  and  west  of  Appalachicola 
river.  It  was  expected  by  the  chiefs  that  I  should 
communicate  to  them  my  views  and  wishes.  I  felt 


334  INDIAN   WARS. 

authorised  to  say  but  little,  and,  I  deemed  it  necessa 
ry  in  what  I  should  say  to  endeavor  to  counteract  the 
erroneous  impressions  by  which  they  have  been  mis 
led  by  pretended  British  agents. 

"  I  hope  the  President  will  see,  in  what  I  have  said, 
•nothing  to  disapprove.  I  feel  persuaded  a  report  of 
the  various  talks  which  I  received  from  the  chiefs, 
would  show  the  propriety  of  what  I  have  said  to 
them.  Such  a  report  I  have  not  a  moments  time  now 
to  make.  The  Indians  are  at  this  moment  firing  at 
our  camp  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  most  respectfully,  your 
most  obedient  humble  servant. 

EDMUND  P.  GA1NES. 

11  Major  Gen.  by  Brevet  commanding. 
•'•  To  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  War,  Washington  City. 

No.  1.  (Enclosed  in  the  above.) 
"Chiefs  and  warriors — The  President  of  the 
"United  States  has  been  informed  of  the  murders  and 
thefts  committed  by  the  hostile  Indians,  who  have 
been  required  to  deliver  up  the  murderers  of  our 
•citizens,  and  the  stolen  property  ;  but  they  refused 
to  deliver  either.  They  have  had  a  council  at 
'Mickasukee,  in  which  they  have  determined  upon 
war.  They  have  been  at  war  against  helpless  wo 
men  and  children,  let  them  now  calculate  upon  fight 
ing  men.  We  have  long  known  that  we  had  enemies 
east  of  the  river  ;  we  likewise  know  we  have  some 
friends;  but  they  are  so  mixed  together  that  we 
.cannot  always  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other. 
The  President  wishes  to  do  justice  to  his  red  friends 
and  to  separate  the  bad  from  the  good.  Those  who 
have  taken  up  arms  against  him,  and  such  as  have 
listened  to  the  bad  talks  of  the  people  beyond  the  sea, 
must  go  to  Mickousukee,  or  Suwaney,  where  we  wish 
to  find  them  together.  But  all  those  who  were  our 
friends  in  the  war  will  sit  at  their  homes  in  peace. 
We  will  pay  them  for  what  meat  they  have  to  sell 
us.  We  will  be  their  friends,  and  when  they  arc 


INDIAN    WAttS.  233 

hungry  we  will  give  them  meat.  The  hostile  party 
pretend  to  calculate  upon  help  from  the  Britisli  ; 
they  may  as  well  look  for  soldiers  from  the  moon  to 
help  them.  Their  warriors  were  beaten,  and  driven 
from  our  country  by  American  troops.  The  English 
are  not  able  to  help  themselves ;  how  then  should 
they  help  the  old  "  Red  Sticks,"  whom  they  have 
joined  by  pretended  friendship." 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  same  to  the  same,  dated  Head  Q,uar. 
ters  Fort  Hawkins,  Dec.  16,  1817. 

Sir — I  arrived  at  this  place  the  day  before  yester 
day  morning.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  I 
received  the  detachment  of  Georgia  militia,  under 
the  command  of  Brigadier  General  Glascock.  They 
look  well,  and  are  ready  to  march  ;  but  the  inatten 
tion  on  the  part  of  the  contractor's  agent  to  the 
requisitions  for  a  supply  of  rations,  will,  I  apprehend, 
according  to  custom,  delay  the  movement  of  the  mili 
tia,  until  some  part  of  the  frontier  settlements  suffer 
by  the  Indians,  who  I  have  no  doubt,  will  detach 
considerable  parties,  for  this  purpose,  as  soon  as  they 
find  themselves  unable  to  succeed  in  any  attempt 
against  the  regular  troops  at  fort  Scott  ;  and  I  think 
it  cannot  be  long  before  they  are  convinced  of  this. 
But  although  I  consider  the  regular  troops  secure  in 
the  situation  they  occupy,  yet  I  am  satisfied  their 
numbers  will  not  warrant  their  being  detached,  or 
leaving  their  places  of  defence,  except  to  a  very  small 
extent. 

"I  have  just  now  received  Mr  Graham's  letter  of 
the  2d  insU  The  views  of  the  President,  so  far  as 
may  depend  on  me,  shall  be  scrupulously  observed. 
I  should  instantly  discharge  the  Georgia  militia,  were 
I  not  strongly  impressed  with  a  belief  that  such  a 
step  would  hazzard  the  safety  of  the  frontier  settle 
ments.  The  Seminole  Indians,  however  strange  and 
absurd  it  may  appear  to  those  who  understand  little 
of  their  real  character  and  extreme  ignorance,  enter- 


236  INDIAN    WARS. 

tain  a  notion  that  they  cannot  be  beaten  by  our  troops. 
They  confidently  assert,  that  we  have  never  beaten 
them,  or  any  of  their  people,  except  when  we  have 
been  assisted  by  the  "  red  people." 

"  This  will  appear  the  less  extraordinary,  when  it 
is  recollected  that  they  have  little  or  no  means  of 
knowing  the  strength  and  resources  of  our  country  ; 
they  have  not  travelled  through  it ;  they  read  nei 
ther  books  nor  newspapers,  nor  have  they  oppor 
tunities  of  conversing  with  persons  able  to  inform 
them. 

"  I  feel  warranted,  from  all  I  know  of  the  savages, 
in  saying,  they  do  not  believe  we  can  beat  them. 

"  This  error  of  theirs  has  led  them  from  time  to 
time,  for  many  years  past,  to  massacre  our  frontier 
citizens,  often  the  unoffending  and  helpless  mother 
and  babes.  I  felt  myself  fully  authorised  to  adopt 
the  only  measures  which  long  experience  has  proved 
to  be  fully  adequate,  to  put  a  stop  to  these  outrages. 
I  was  pleased  with  the  prospect  of  being  instru 
mental  in  effecting  an  object  of  so  much  importance 
to  our  exposed  frontier  settlements,  and  which  I  felt 
and  still  feel  pursuaded,  would  in  the  end  benefit  the 
Indians. 

14  The  steps  I  have  taken  are  known  to  the  depart 
ment  of  war.  You  can  more  readily  conceive,  than 
1  describe,  the  mortification  and  disappointment  I 
have  experienced  in  being  compelled  to  suspend  or 
abandon  my  measures,  at  a  moment  when  the  loss  of 
Lieut.  Scott  and  his  party  had  given  the  enemy  an 
occasion  for  triumph,  and  a  certain  prospect  of  in 
creasing  his  strength,  by  enlisting  against  us  all  who 
had  before  wavered  or  hesitated. 

44  Permit  me  then  to  repeat  my  request  that  I  may 
be  permitted  to  return. 

44  There  is  little  reason  to  apprehend  that  we  shall 
find  it  necessary  to  follow  the  Indians  beyond  the  na 
tional  boundary.  They  are  now  to  be  found  in  very 
considerable  parties  on  our  side  of  the  line. 


INDIAN    WARS.  237 

"  I  have  not  a  doubt  of  the  necessity  of  sending  to 
Flint  river,  by  way  of  Hartford,  the  detachment  of 
militia  under  Gen.  Glascock. 

6i  My  endeavours  to  put  the  detachment  in  motion 
will  delay  my  own  movement  until  the  7th  inst.  at 
which  time  I  shall  resume  my  march  to  Point  Peter. 

"  An  opinion  prevails  among  the  well  informed  of 
this  part  of  the  country  (who  have  by  some  means 
unknown  to  me  been  advised  of  our  intention  to  take 
Amelia  island)  that  our  troops  there  will  meet  with 
no  opposition.  Should  this  be  the  case,  I  shall  return 
to  fort  Scott  without  delay. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c. 

"EDMUND  P.  GATNES,  Maj.  Gen.  Comd, 
"  Hon.  J.  C.  Calhoun,  Secretary  of  War." 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  J.  C.  Calhoun,  Secretary  of  war,  to  Gen. 
Gaines,  dated  Dec.  16,  1817. 

"Sir — On  the  receipt  of  this  letter,  should  the 
Seminole  Indians  still  refuse  to  make  reparations  for 
their  outrages  and  depredations  on  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  it  is  the  wish  of  the  President,  that 
you  consider  yourself  at  liberty  to  march  across  the 
Florida  line,  and  to  attack  them  within  its  limits, 
should  it  be  found  necessary,  unless  they  should  shel 
ter  themselves  under  a  Spanish  fort.  In  the  last  event, 
you  will  immediately  notify  this  department. 

"  I  have,  &,c.  &/c. 

EXTRACT    OF     A    LETTER    FROM    THE      SECRETARY 

OF    WAR,    TO    (5EN.    JACKSON,    DATED 

"  Department  of  War,  Dec.  26,  1817. 

"  Sir — You  will  repair  with  as  little  delay  as  prac 
ticable,  to  fort  Scott,  and  assume  the  immediate  com 
mand  of  the  forces  in  that  section  of  the    southern 
division. 

"  The  increasing  display  of  hostile  intentions  by  the 
Seminole  Indians  may  render  it  necessary  to  concen 
trate  all  the  contiguous  and  disposable  force  of  your 
31 


338  INDIAN  WARS. 

division,  upon  that  quarter.  The  regular  force  now 
there  is  about  800  strong,  and  1000  militia  of  the  state 
of  Georgia  are  called  into  service.  Gen.  Gaines  esti 
mates  the  strength  of  the  Indians  at  2700.'  Should 
you  be  of  opinion  that  our  numbers  are  too  small  to 
beat  the  enemy,  you  will  call  on  the  executives  of  the 
adjacent  states  for  such  an  additional  militia  force  as 
you  may  deem  requisite. 

Gen.  Gaines  had  been  ordered  early  in  last  month 
to  repair  to  Amelia  island.     It   is  presumed  that   he 
has,  therefore,relinquished  the  command  at  fort  Scott. 
Subsequent  orders  have  been  given  to  Gen.  Gaines, 
(copies  of  which  will  be  furnished  you,)  advising  him 
that  you  would  be  directed  to  take  command,  and  di 
recting  him  to  re-assume,  should  he  deem  the  public 
interest  to  require  it,  the  command  at  foit  Scott,  un 
til  you  should  arrive  there.      If,  however,  the  genera- 
should  have  progressed  to  Florida,  before  the  subsel 
quent  orders  may  have  reached  him,  he  was  instruct 
ed  to  penetrate  to  the  Seminole  towns,  through  the 
Floridas,  provided  the  s  rength   of  his   command   at 
Amelia  would  justify  his  engaging  in  offensive  oper 
ations. 

"  With  this  view,  you  may  be  prepared  to  concen 
trate  your  forces  and  to  adopt  the  necessary  meas 
ures,  to  terminate  a  conflict,  which  it  has  been  the 
desire  of  the  President,  from  considerations  of  human 
ity;  to  avoid,  but  which  is  now  made  necessary  by 
their  settled  hostility. 

"  With  great  respect,  &c.      J.  C.   CALHOUN. 

'  Maj.  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  comdg.  southern  division." 

MAJ.  GEN.  JACKSON  TO  THE  WAR  DEPARTMENT. 

"  H.  Q.  Division  of  the  South,  Nashville,  Jan.  20,  1818. 

Sir — In  a  communication  to  you  of  the  12th  inst. 
I  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  your  order  of  the  20th 
ult.  and  advised  you  of  the  appeal  I  had  made  to  the 
patriotism  of  the  West  Tennesseeans.  Yesterday  the 
officers  who  had  so  gallantly  headed  the  Tennessee 
mounted  volunteers  during  the  Creek  campaigns,  met 


ItfDIAH    WARS.  339 

me  at  this  place,  and  gave  every  assurance  of  their 
ability  to  assemble  two  regiments  of  mounted  gun 
men,  by  the  31st  inst.  at  any  designated  point  within 
the  western  part  of  the  state.  I  have  ordered  them 
to  rendezvous  at  Fayetville,  and  as  many  as  may  ap 
pear  on  the  31st  inst.  or  the  first  of  February,  to  be 
mustered  and  received  into  service  for  six  months, 
(if  not  sooner  discharged,)  by  my  Inspector  General. 
The  contractor  has  instructions  to  issue  to  these 
troops  20  days  rations  and  every  measure  has  been 
adopted  to  facilitate  their  march,  via  Fort  Jackson,  by 
the  most  direct  practicable  route  to  fort  Scott.  These 
troops  will  be  well  supplied  as  far  as  fort  Jackson, 
and  there  the  necessary  provisions  may  be  obtained, 
and  packed  to  answer  their  immediate  wants  until 
they  are  intercepted  by  supplies  from  below.  Maj; 
Fanning  has  been  despacthed  to  fort  Hawkins,  to 
purchase  and  forward  on  these  supplies  to  the  most 
convenient  point  of  interception. 

With  respect,  &c. 

"ANDREW  JACKSON,  Maj.  Gen.  com." 
"  Hon.  J.  C.  Calhoun,  Secretary  of  War." 

SECRETARY  OF  WAR  TO  GEN.  JACKSON, 

Extracts  of  a  letter  from  J.  C.    Calhoun,   Secretary  of  War,  to 
Maj.  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  dated 

January  24,  1S1B. 

"  Your  letters  of  the  12th  and  13th  inst  are  re 
ceived.  The  measures  you  have  taken  to  bring  an 
efficient  force  into  the  field,  are  approbated  ;  and 
a  confident  hope  is  entertained, , that  a  speedy  and 
successful  termination  of  the  Indian  war -will  follow 
your  exertions." 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  J.  C.  Calhoun,  Secretary  of  war,  to  Maj. 
Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  dated 

"  Department  of  War,  Feb.  6,  1818. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  letter  of  the  20th  ult.  and  .to  acquaint  you  with 


246)  INDIAN    WABS. 

the  entire  approbation  of  Jthe  President,  of  all  fthe 
measures  which  you  have  adopted  to  terminate  the 
rupture  with  the  Indians.  The  honour  of  our  arms, 
as  well  as  the  interest  of  our  country,  requires  that  it 
should  be  as  speedily  terminated  as  practicable  ;  and 
the  confidence  reposed  in  your  skill  and  promptitude 
assures  us  that  peace  will  be  restored  on  such  condi 
tions  as  will  make  it  honourable  and  permanent." 

GEN.    JACKSON    TO    THE    SECRETARY    OF'   WAR. 

u  Fort  Gadsden,  east  bank  of  the  Appalachicola    > 
river,  formerly  Negro  fort,  March  20,  1818.          $ 

"Sir — At  7  o'clock,  P.  M.  on  the  9th  inst.  I  reach 
ed  fort  Scott,  with  the  brigade  of  Georgia  militia, 
900  bayonets  strong,  and  some  of  the  friendly  Creeks 
who  had  joined  me  on  my  march  a  few  days  before, 
where  finding  but  one  quart  of  corn  per  man,  and  a 
few  poor  cattle,  which  added  to  the  live  pork  I 
brought  with  me,  would  give  us  three  days  rations  of 
meat,. determined  me  at  once  to  use  this  small  sup 
ply  to  the  best  advantage.  Accordingly,  having  been 
advised  by  Col.  Gibson,  Quarter-Master-Genera], 
that  he  would  sail  from  IMew-Orleans  on  the  12th  of 
February,  with  supplies  ;  and  being  also  advised  that 
two  sloopG  with  provisions  were  in  the  bay,  and  an 
officer  had  been  despatched  from  fort  Scott  in  a  large 
keel  boat  to  bring  up  a  part  of  their  loading,  and 
deeming  that  the  preservation  of  the  supplies  would 
be  to  preserve  the  army,  and  enable  me  to  prosecute 
the  campaign,  I  assumed  the  command  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  10th,  ordered  the  live  stock  to  be  slaugh 
tered  and  issued  to  the  troops,  with  one  quart  of  corn 
to  each  man,  and  the  line  of  march  to  be  taken  up 
at  12  meridian.  Having  to  cross  the  Flint  river, 
which  was  very  high,  combined  with  some  neglect  in 
returning  the  boats  during  a  very  dark  night,  I  was 
unable  to  move  from  the  opposite  bank  until  8  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  llth,  when  I  took  up  my  line 


INDIAN    WARS.  24sl 

i 

of  march  down  the  east  bank  of  the  river  for  this 
place,  touching  the  river  as  often  as  practical)!1,  look 
ing  for  the  provision  boat  which  was  ascending,  and 
which  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  meet  on  the  13th, 
when  I  ordered  an  extra  ration  to  the  troops,  they 
not  having  received  a  full  one  of  meal  or  flour  since 
their  arrival  at  fort  Early. 

"On  that  day  my  patroles  captured  three  prisoners 
and  found  some  hidden  corn.  On  the  morning  of  the 
14th  I  ordered  the  boat  down  the  river  to  this  place, 
whilst  I  descended  by  land,  and  reached  here  with 
out  interruption  on  the  16th.  The  eligibility  of  this 
spot  as  a  depot  determined  me,  and  I  immediately 
directed  my  aid  de-camp,  Lieut.  Gadsden,  of  the  en 
gineer  corps,  to  furnish  a  plan  for,  and  superintend 
the  erection  of  a  fortification.  His  talents  and  inde 
fatigable  zeal  displayed  in  the  execution  of  this  order, 
induced  me  to  name  it  fort  Gadsden  ;  to  which  he  is 
justly  entitled. 

"  From  information  received  from  Pensacola  and 
New-Orleans,  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  St.  Marks  is 
in  possession  of  the  Indians.  The  governor  of  Pen 
sacola  informed  Capt.  Call,  of  the  1st  infantry,  (now 
here)  that  the  Indians  had  demanded  arms,  ammuni 
tion  and  provisions,  or  the  possession  of  the  garrison 
of  St.  Marks  of  the  commandant,  and  that  he  presumed 
possession  would  be  given  from  inability  to  defend  it. 
The  Spanish  government  is  bound  by  treaty  to  keep 
the  indians  at  peace  with  us.  They  have  acknowl 
edged  their  incompetency  to  do  this,  and  are  conse 
quently  bound  by  the  law  of  nations  to  yield  us  all 
facilities  to  reduce  them.  Under  this  consideration, 
should  I  be  able,  I  shall  take  possession  of  the  gar 
rison  as  a  depot  for  my  supplies,  should  it  be  found 
in  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards,  they  having  supplied 
the  Indians;  but  if  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  1  will 
possess  it  for  the  benefit  of  the  United  States,  as  a 
necessary  position  for  me  to  hold,  to  give  peace  and 
security  to  this  frontier,  and  put  a  final  end  to  Indian 
warfare  in  the  south. 


242  UTDIAB    WARS. 

"Finding  it  very  difficult  to  supply  for" 
on  the  Caneucho,  by  land,  I  have  ordered  the  sup 
plies  for  that  garrison  by  water,  and  written  to  the 
governor  of  Pensacola,  that  if  ho  interrupts  them 
during  the  present  Indian  war,  I  shall  view  it  as  aid 
ing  our  eoerny,  and  treat  it  as  an  act  of  hostility,  and 
stated  to  him  the  propriety  under  existiii^  circum 
stances  of  his  affording  all  facilities  to  put  clown  their 
own  as  well  as  our  enemies,  and  that  our  government, 
while  negotiating  can  take  the  subject  under  consid 
eration,  but,  in  the  meantime,  our  provisions  must 
pass  to  fort  Crawford  by  water  without  interruption. 

"  In  mine,  of  the  26th  ultimo,  from  fi.rt  Karly,  I 
stated  that  despatches,  received  by  Gen.  Gaines  on 
the  19th  inst.  from  the  commanding  officer  at  fort 
Scott,  induced  him  to  set  out  that  nigh  for  fort  Scott 
to  prevent  its  abandonment,  &c.  In  his  passage  clown 
the  Flint  river  he  was  shipwrecked,  by  which  he  lost 
his  assistant  adjutant-general,  Major  C.  \N  right,  and 
two  soldiers  drowned.  The  General  reached  me 
six  days  after,  nearly  exhausted  by  hunger  and  cold, 
•having  lost  his  baggage  and  clothing  and  being  com 
pelled  to  wander  in  the  woods  four  and  a  half  days 
without  any  thing  to  subsist  on,  or  any  clothing  ex 
cept  a  pair  of  pantaloons.  I  am  happy  to  have  it  in 
my  power  to  say,  that  he  is  now  with  me  at  the  head 
of  his  brigade  in  good  health. 

"ANDREW  JACKSON,  Maj.  Gen.  comd'g. 

<CP.  S.  General  M'Intosh,  commanding  the  friendly 
Creeks,  who  had  been  ordered  to  reconnoitre  the 
right  bank  of  the  Appalachicola,  reported  to  me  on 
the  19th,  that  he  had  captured,  without  the  fire  of  a 
gun,  190  women  and  children,  and  53  warriors  of 
the  Ked  Ground  Chief's  party,  with  their  cattle  and 
supplies.  The  chief  and  20  warriors  made  their  es 
cape  on  horseback.  Ten  of  the  warriors,  attempting 
to  escape  alter  they  had  surrendered,  were  killed  by 
the  general.  A.  J." 


IKDIA5  WARS.  243 

ADJUTANT     GEN.     BUTLER    TO    THE    SEC.     OF    WAR. 

14 Head-Quarters,  Division  of  the  South,  } 
Adjutant  G«  neral's  Office.  F  -  (j-dsden,  > 
Appalchicjla  river,  Ma/  3,  1218.  J 

4*  Sir — I  have  the  honour  to  report,  that  the  army 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Maj.  Gen.  Andrew 
Jackson,  took  up  the  line  of  march  on  tie  26th  day 
of  March  last,  with  eight  days  rations,  and  lay  in  ad*- 
vance  of  this  post  about  six  miles  on  the  29th,  at 
Ochloehaway  river,  when  19  canoes  were  made,  and 
the  principal  part  of  the  army  crossed  by  8  o'clock, 
P.  Si.  Major  Twiggs  was  detached  with  one  com 
pany  and  about  200  warriors,  with  orders  to  advance 
on  an  Indian  village  called  Tallahasse,  and  surprise  it 
at  day-break.  On  his  near  approach  he  dispatched 
a  party  to  ascertain  its  situation,  who  reported  it 
evacuated  some  days  before.  On  the  morning  of  the 
31st  he  entered  the  village,  having  previously  sent 
out  parties  to  reconnoitre  :  two  of  the  enemy  were 
made  prisoners,  one  of  whom  made  his  escape  from 
the  Indians  before  he  was  brought  into  camp.  The 
army  passed  the  village  about  12  o'clock,  and  en 
camped  near  Mickausky,  when  intelligence  was  re 
ceived  of  the  approach  of  a  detachment  of  mounted 
volunteers,  from  Tennessee,  under  the  command  of 
Lieut.  Col.  Elliot,  near  400  strong.  On  the  morning 
of  the  1st  of  April,  the  army  formed  and  halted  until 
their  arrival,  when  they  were  ordered  to  form  the 
advance  of  each  flank,  with  Captains  Russell  and 
Evan?s  companies  as  spies,  with  Captain  John  Gor 
don.  The  army  now  advanced  within  one  mile  and 
a  half  of  Kinghajah  town,  when  a  number  of  Indians 
were  discovered  bearding  cattle  in  the  margin  of  a 
large  pocd.  The  General  ordered  the  right  and 
left  columns  to  advance,  with  a  view  of  cutting  off 
their  retreat,  and  the  same  time  instructed  the  ad 
vance  light  company  under  Major  Muhlenberg,  the 
guard,  Major  Nicks',  together  with  small  companies 
composing  his  life  guard,  under  Captains  Dunlap 


544  INDIAN   WAR*. 

and  Crittenden  to  advance  in  support  of  the  spies,  in 
the  event  of  a  general  engagement.  The  spy  com 
panies  commenced  the  attack,  and  a  brisk  running 
fire  was  kept  up  on  both  sides  for  some  minutes, 
when  the  enemy  divided,  the  spy  companies  pursuing 
those  on  the  right,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Elliot,  having 
turned  their  flank,  became  generally  engaged,  and 
bore  them  over  to  the  left  column,  under  the  command 
of  Lieut.  Col.  Mitchell,  within  half  gun-shot  of  each 
other,  when  they  were  assailed  by  both  flanks  and 
would  all  have  fallen,  had  not  the  volunteers  taken 
up  the  impression  (from  the  similiarity  of  dress)  that 
some  of  the  friendly  warriors  had  reached  in  pursuit 
of  the  enemy,  which  occasioned  the  firing  to  cease 
for  a  short  time,  when  a  number  made  good  their 
retreat  into  the  swamp  Captain  Critttenden's  com 
pany  being  on  horse  back,  was  unable  to  reach 
the  head  of  Lieut  Col.  Elliot's  column,  when  they 
dismounted  and  operated  against  the  enemy.  Major 
Muhlenburg's  company,  the  advance  guard  and  Cap 
tain  Dunlap's  company,  being  on  foot  was  not  able 
to  reach  the  scene  of  action  in  time.  The  right  col 
umn  of  Georgia  militia  on  nearing  the  pond  filed 
round  it,  and  Col.  King,  with  his  regiment,  was 
ordered  to  advance  through  it  to  support  the  column 
of  horse,  should  it  be  found  necessary  ;  which  was 
executed  by  the  Colonel  with  great  promptitude. 
The  conduct  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  engaged  on 
this  occasion,  was  in  ovory  respect  praiseworthy. 
Our  loss  was  one  man  of  Captain  Andrew's  company 
killed,  and  four  of  Capt.  Evan's  company  of  Ten 
nessee  volunteers  wounded.  The  reports  give  15 
killed  and  several  wounded  of  the  enemy,  and  four 
women  prisoners,  from  whom  we  learned  that  300 
warriors  had  advanced  from  the  town  to  aid  those 
engaged,  and  on  seeing  the  advance  of  an  army,  fled 
precipitately.  The  army  now  advanced  upon  thr 
town  which  was  found  deserted  ;  and  on  reaching  the 
square  discovered  a  red  pole  planted  at  the  council 
house,  on  which  was  suspended  about  50  fresh  scalps 
taken  from  the  heads  of  extreme  age,  down  to  the 


INDIAN  WARS. 

tender  infant,  of  both  sexes,  and  in  an  adjacent  house, 
those  of  near  300  men,  which  bore  the  appearance  of 
having  been  the  barbarous  trophies  of  settled  hostility 
for  three  or  four  years  past. 

u  The  army  continued  the  pursuit  to  a  large  pond 
of  water,  which  is  eight  mile  in  length,  varying  in 
width  from  600  to  4000  yards,  and  from  two  to  five 
feet  deep ;  through  which  the  army  passed,  when 
the  approach  of  night  induced  the  commanding  gen^ 
eral  to  draw  off  his  troops.  On  the  succeeding 
morning  brevet  Maj.  Gen.  E.  P.  Gaines,  with  a  large 
command,  was  ordered  to  pass  the  lake  or  pond,  and 
attack  the  other  towns  ;  but  which  he  found  aban 
doned  by  the  enemy.  The  red  pole  was  again  found 
planted  in  the  square  of  Fowl  Town,  barbarously 
decorated  with  human  scalps,  of  both  sexes,  taken 
within  the  last  six  months  from  the  heads  of  our  un 
fortunate  citizens.  Gen.  M'Intosh,  who  was  with 
Gen.  Gaines,  routed  a  small  party  of  savages  near 
Fowl  Town,  killed  one  negro  and  took  three  prison 
ers,  on  one  of  whom  was  found  the  coat  of  James 
Champion,  of  C'apt.  Cumming's  company,  4th  regi 
ment  of  infantry,  who  was  killed  by  the  Indians  on 
board  of  one  of  our  boats  descending  the  river  to  the 
relief  of  Major  Muhlenberg  ;  this  coat  with  nearly  all 
Capt.  Cumming's  company's  clothing  was  lost  on 
board  of  Lieut.  Scott's  boat  when  he  and  his  party 
were  massacred  on  the  30th  of  November  last.  The 
pocket  book  of  Mr  Leigh,  who  was  murdered  at 
Ceder  Creek  on  the  21st  January  last,  was  found  in 
Kinghajah's  town,  containing  several  letters  address 
ed  to  the  deceased.,  and  one  to  General  Glascock. 
About  1000  head  of  cattle  fell  into  our  hands,  many 
of  which  were  recognized  by  the  Georgia  militia,  as 
having  brands  and  marks  of  their  citizens.  Near 
3000  bushels  of  corn  were  found,  with  other  articles 
useful  to  the  army.  Upwards  of  300  houses  were 
consumed,  leaving  a  tract  of  fertile  country  in  ruin  ; 
where  these  wretches  might  have  lived  in  plenty, 
but  for  the  vile  machinations  of  foreign  traders,  if  not 
32 


246  INDIAN  WARS. 

agents.  The  army  remained  at  this  point  until  the 
morning  of  the  5th,  when  the  march  was  resumed 
for  St.  Marks,  before  which  it  arrived  on  the  evening 
of  the  6th  ;  and,  after  communicating  with  the  com 
manding  officer,  took  possession  of  that  fortress  on 
the  following  morning,  Capt.  M'Keever  of  the  navy, 
having  sailed  for  St.  Marks  with  some  vessels  con 
taining  supplies  for  the  army,  was  fortunate  enough 
to  entice  on  board  his  vessel  in  the  river,  Francis 
or  Hillishajo,  and  Homathlamico,  hostile  chiefs  of  the 
Creek  nation,  and  whose  settled  hostility  have  been 
severely  felt  by  our  citizens.  The  commanding  Gen 
eral  had  them  brought  on  shore,  and  ordered  them  to 
be  hung,  as  an  example  to  deter  others  from  exciting 
these  deluded  wretches  to  future  scenes  of  butchery. 
A  man  by  the  name  of  A.  Arbuthnot  was  also  taken 
on  the  arrival  of  the  army,  and  placed  in  close  con 
finement. 

"  The  troops    having  again  received    eight  days 
rations,  and    a  garrison  detached  for  fort  St.  Marks, 
the  army  marched  on  c  *e   9th  of  April,  destined  for 
Suwaney.     On  the  morning  of  the  12th  the  officer  of 
the  day  reported,  that  the   sentinels   had  heard   the 
lowing  of  cattle  and  barking  of  dogs  during  the  night  ; 
from  which  the  General  was  induced  to  send  a  runner 
to  General  M'Intosh,  who  encamped  a  short  distance 
in  the  rear  of  the  army,  with  instructions  to  have  the 
country  examined.   In  the  mean  time,  the  army  mov 
ed  slowly  in  advance.    General  M'Intosh  despatched 
Major  Kanard,  with  a  party,  who  returned  to  him  a 
runner,  reporting  the  discovery  of  a  hostile  party  too 
strong  for    his    little  band   of   warriors.     M'Intosh 
moved  against  them  with  his  whole  force,  and  a  small 
•  detachment  of  different  companies  of  the  Tennessee 
volunteers,  under    Colonels  Dyer  and  Williamson, 
(they  havi-ng  joined  the   army  on  the  evening  of  the 
10th)  and,  on   hearing  the  report  of  Major  Kanard, 
formed  themselves    into  a  company  under  Captain 
Bell,  who  was  with  them,  and  moved  to  attack  the 
enemy,  whom  they  found  near  a  large   swamp,  en- 


INDIAN    WARS.  347 

deavouring  to  move  off.  A  spirited  engagement  en 
sued,  which  resulted  in  the  death  of  37,  and  6  men 
and  ,98  women  and  children  prisoners  ;  and  our  loss 
three  killed  and  four  wounded  of  the  friendly  Indians. 
The  only  woman  out  of  seven,  whose  life  was  spared 
at  the  massacre  of  Lieut.  Scott,  was  here  re-captured 
by  Major  Kanard.  Gen.  M'Intosh  individually  kill 
ed  three  of  the  enemy  and  captured  one.  The  little 
band  of  Tennessee  volunteers  acted  on  this  occasion 
as  becomes  their  character.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  action  the  army  was  halted,  and  a  runner  des 
patched  to  inform  Gen.  M'Intosh  that  any  aid  he 
might  deem  necessary  would  be  afforded,  and  that 
the  army  would  remain  until  his  arrival,  which  was 
not  until  we  encamped  for  the  night 

"  The  enemy  abandoned  a  number  of  horses,  hogs, 
corn,  and  about  600  head  of  cattle.  The  army  mov 
ed  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  and  on  the  succeed 
ing  day  our  spies  surprised  a  camp,  consisting  of  two 
men,  a  woman  and  two  children.  O«e  of  the  men 
was  killed  ;  the  others,  with  a  small  boy,  slightly 
wounded  ;  and  the  woman  unfortunately,  not  being 
distinguished  in  the  swamp  received  a:\vound,  of  which 
she  died. 

"At  3  o'clock,  P.  M.  on  the  £9th,  the  army  arrived 
.at  a  large  pond,  within  6  miles  of  Bowlegs5  town, 
on  Suwaney  river,  where  a  few  Indians,  well 
mounted,  discovered  our  advance.  An  attempt  was 
made  to  overtake  them  ;  but  the  enfeebled  state  of 
our  horses  rendered  it  impracticable.  Under  these 
circumstances,  the  General  deemed  it  advisable  to 
make  the  town  by  a  forced  march,  not  allowing  the 
.enemy  time  to  cross  the  river,  and  destroy  their  sup 
plies.  The  manner  of  attack  having  been  previously 
arranged,  the  army  moved  rapidly,  until  arriving  near 
a  thick  wood  which  flanks  the  town,  when  the  troops 
changed  position,  conformably  to  previous  orders, 
and  moved  forward.  The  left  fiank,  composed  of 
Col.  Williamson's  regiment  of  Tennessee  volunteers, 
at  the  head  of  which  a  force  of  Indians  warriors 


&4S  INDIAN    WARS. 

under  Col.  Kanard,  soon  came  in  contact  with  and 
warmly  engaged  the  Indians  and  negroes,  whilst 
the  right  flank,  composed  of  Col.  Dyer's  regiment  of 
Tennessee  volunteers,  with  a  like  force  of  warriors 
under  Gen.  M'Intosh,  advanced  near  the  river,  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  crossing.  The  centre 
advanced  in  excellent  order,  and  under  the  expecta 
tions  of  having  to  combat  with  the  strength  of  these 
towns,  and  the  fugitives  from  Mickausky  ;  but  on 
reaching  Bowlegs9  Town  found  it  abandoned.  The 
left  flank,  from  the  nature  of  the  ground  they  had  to 
traverse,  and  Col.  Kanard  not  adhering  to  the  route 
designated,  drove  the  Indians  and  negroes,  about  300, 
into  the  river,  before  the  right  flank  could  occupy  the 
desired  position. 

"  The  reports  give  11  killed  and  3  prisoners  on  the 
field,  and  it  is  believed  many  were  killed  and  drown 
ed  in  swimming  the  river,  it  being  nearly  300  yards 
wide.  Col.  Kanard  had  13  wounded,  one  dangerous 
ly.  About  2,700  bushels  of  corn  were  obtained  in  the 
towns  and  neighbouring  swamps,  and  nearly  90  head 
of  cattle  and  a  number  of  horses.  Our  sentinels  on 
the  night  of  the  17th,  took  prisoners  two  white  men 
f  Ambrister  and  Cook)  and  one  negro,  who  had  just 
returned  from  Arbuthnot's  vessel  at  the  mouth  of 
Suwaney.  From  the  latter  we  obtained  a  letter 
written  by  A.  Arbuthnot  to  his  son,  in  which  he  enu 
merates  the  army  of  the  U.  States,  under  the  Gener 
al's  command,  and  requests  him  to  inform  his  friend 
Bowlegs,  that  resistance  would  be  fruitless  against 
such  an  overwhelming  force,  and  to  make  over  the 
river  with  all  despatch  ;  admonishing  his  SOB,  at  the 
same  time  to  remove  and  secrete  every  thing  that 
could  be  removed.  From  Cook  we  learned,  that 
this  was  read  to  the  negroes  and  Indians,  when  they 
immediately  commenced  crossing  their  families,  and 
had  just  finished  as  we  entered  their  towns.  Upwards 
of  300  houses  were  here  consumed,  the  most  of  which 
were  well  built,  and  somewhat  regular,  extending 
.near  three  miles  up  the  riv^er.  On  the  morning  of 


INDIAN    WARS.  249 

ths  18th  Gen.  Gaincs  was  ordered,  with  a  select  com 
mand,  and  a  number  of  warriors  under  Gen.  M'Inlosh 
to  cross  the  Suwaney  river,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy, 
but  found,  on  advancing  about  6  miles,  that  they 
were  dispersed  in  every  direction,  from  the  numerous 
trails,  and  too  far  advanced  to  overtake  them,  his  com 
mand  being  short  of  supplies. 

u  A  detachment  of  warriors  having  advanced  some 
distance,  fell  in  with  a  small  party  of  the  enemy,  killed 
three  warriors,  took  some  women  and  children,  and 
negroes.  On  the  same  morning  Lieut.  James  Gads- 
den,  Aid-de-Camp  to  the  commanding  General,  de 
scended  the  Suwaney  river  to  its  mouth  with  Cpatain 
Dunlap's  and  a  few  of  Capt.  Crittenden's  companies 
of  the  life-guard  and  a  small  detachment  of  the  regu 
lars,  and  captured  without  difficulty  the  schooner  of 
A.  Arbuthnot,  which  had  brought  supplies  of  powder 
and  lead  to  the  Indians  and  negroes,  settled  at  Suwa 
ney.  This  vessel  afforded  the  means  of  transporting 
our  sick  back  to  St.  Marks. 

On  the  evening  of  the  20th,  Gen.  Glascock  was 
ordered  at  his  request,  to  march  his  brigade  by 
Mickausky  to  Hartford,  in  Georgia,  and  Captain  Bell 
ordered  to  muster  those  out  of  service,  and  the  army 
moved  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  preparatory  to 
its  return.  On  the  20th  Gen.  M'Intosh  was  order 
ed  to  proceed  direct  to  fort  Scott  on  Flint  river,  and 
order  furnished  him  to  the  commanding  officer  to  mus 
ter  his  warriors  out  of  service. 

"  The  army  reached  fort  St.  Marks  on  the  25th, 
having  marched  2S  miles  on  that  day  ;  and  we  were 
agreeably  surprised  in  finding  that  Lieut.  Gadsden 
had  arrived  in  safety  that  evening,  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Suwaney.  On  the  26th  a  special  court  was  or 
dered,  for  the  trial  of  A.  Arbuthnot  and  Robert  C. 
Ambrister,  which  court,  on  the  documents  and  evi 
dence  adduced,  sentenced  the  first  to  be  hung,  and 
the  latter  to  be  shot.  They  were  accordingly  exe 
cuted  on  the  morning  of  the  29th.  The  army  moved 
and  encamped  in  the  evening  of  the  28th,  and  arrived 


250  INDIAN    WARS. 

at  fort  Gadsden  on  the  2d  inst.  The  General  having 
previously  detached  a  garrison  of  200  men,  under  the 
command  of  brevet  Major  Fanning,  to  occupy  fort 
St.  Marks.  I  have  only  to  add,  that  this  army  has 
borne  hardships  and  privations  to  a  great  extent,  in  a 
manner  becoming  soldiers  and  citizens  of  a  nation 
proud  of  their  liberties. 

"  And  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your 
most  obedient  servant. 

ROBERT  BUTLER,  Adj.  Gen. 

BRIG.    GEN.    DANIEL    PARKER,    Adj.     and     IflSp.     Gen. 

General  Jackson  in  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of 
War,  stating  his  reasons  for  having  demanded  from 
/the  Spanish  Commandant  the  surrender  of  fort  St. 
Marks,  concludes  thus  ;  *c  It  could  not  be  maintained 
by  the  Spanish  force  garrisoning  it.  The  Indians 
.and  negroes  viewed  it  as  an  asylum  if  driven  from 
the  towns,  and  were  preparing  to  occupy  it,  in  this 
event.  It  wag  necessary  to  anticipate  their  move 
ments,  independent  of  the  position  being  deemed 
-essential  as  a  depot  on  which  the  success. of  my  fu 
ture  opperations  measurably  depended.  In  the  spirit 
of  £  friendship  I,  therefore,  ^demanded  its  surrender 
to  the  army  of  the  United  States  until  the  close  of 
the  Seminole  war.  The  Spanish  commandant  re 
quired  time  to  reflect  :  it  was  granted  ;  and  a  negoti 
ation  ensued,  and  an  effort  was  made  to  protract  it  to 
an  unwarrantable  length.  In  the  conversation  be 
tween  my  Aid-de-carnp,  Lieut.  Gadsden,  and  the 
Spanish  commandant,  circumstances  transpired  con 
vincing  him  of  a  disposition  to  favor  the  Indians,  and 
having  taken  an  active  part  in  aiding  and  abetting 
them  in  this  war.  I  hesitated,  therefore,  no  longer  ; 
and,  as  I  could  not  be  received  in  friendship,  I  enter 
ed  the  fort  by  violence.  Two  light  companies  of  the 
7th  regiment  of  infantry,  arid  one  of  the  4th,  under  the 
command  of  Major  Twiggs,  were  ordered  to  advance,, 
lower  the  Spanish  colors  and  hoist  the  star-spangled 
banner  on  the  ramparts  ef  fort  St.  Marks.  The 


INDIAN  WARS.  251 


order  was   executed  promptly.     No   resistance 
attempted  on  the  part  of  the  Spanish  garrison, 

"In  fort  St  Marks  an»inmate  in  the  family  of  the* 
Spanish  commandant,  an  Englishman,  by  the  name 
of  Arbuthnot  was  found.  Unable  satisfactorily  to  ex 
plain  the  object  of  his  visiting  this  country,  and  there- 
being  a  combination  of  circumstances  to  justify  a  sus 
picion  that  his  views  were  not  honest,  he  was  order 
ed  into  close  confinement.  On  the  capture  of  his 
schooner  near  the  mouth  of  Suwaney  river  by  my 
Aid-de-camp,  Lieut.  Gadsden,  papers  were  found  on 
board  unveiling  his  corrupt  transations,  as  well  as 
those  of  Captain  Ambrister,  late  of  the  British  colo 
nial  marine  corps,  taken  as  a  prisoner  near  Bowlegsr 
town.  These  individuals  were  tried  under  my  orders  j 
by  a  special  court  of  select  officers,  legally  convicted 
as  exciters  of  this  savage  and  negro  war,  legally  con 
demned,  and  most  justly  punished  for  their  iniquities. 

"  Previous  to  my  leaving  fort  Gadsden  I  had  oc 
casion  to  address  a  communication  to  the  Governor 
of  Pensacola,  on  the  subject  of  permitting  supplies  to- 
pass  up  the  Escambia  river  to  fort  Crawford.  This 
letter  with  another  from  St  Marks  on  the  subject  of 
some  United  States  clothing,  shipped  in  a  vessel  in 
the  employ  of  the  Spanish  Government,  to  that  postr 
I  now  enclose  with  his  reply.  The  Governor  of 
Pensacola  refusing  my  demand  cannot  but  be  viewed 
as  evincing  an  hostile  feeling  on  his  part,  particular 
ly  in  connexion  with  some  circumstances  reported  to 
me  from  the  most  unquestionable  authority.  It  has 
been  stated  that  the  Indians  at  war  with  the  United 
States,  have  free  access  into  Pensacola  ;  that  they 
are  kept  advised  from  that  quarter,  of  all  our  move 
ments  ;  that  they  are  supplied  from  thence  with  am- 
unition  and  munitions  of  war  ;  and  that  they  are 
now  collecting  in  a  large  body,  to  the  number  of  4  or 
500  warriors,  in  that  city.  That  inroads  from  thence 
have  been  lately  made  on  the  Alabama  ;  in  one  of 
which  18  settlers  fell  by  the  tomahawk.  These 
statements  compel  me  to  make  a  movement  to  the 


252  INDIAN  WARS. 

west  of  the  Appalachicola,  and,  should  they  prove 
correct,  Pcnsacola  must  be  occupied  with  an  Amer 
ican  force  ;  the  Governor  treated  according  to  his 
deserts,  or  as  policy  may  dictate.  I  shall  leave  strong 
garrisons  in  forts  St.  Marks,  Gadsden  and  Scott,  and 
in  Pensacola,  should  it  become  necessary  to  possess 
it.  It  becomes  my  duty  to  state  it,  as  my  confirmed 
opinion,  that  so  long  as  Spain  has  not  the  power  or 
will  to  enforce  the  treaties  by  which  she  is  solemnly 
bound  to  preserve  the  Indians  within  her  territory, 
at  peace  with  the  United  States,  no  security  can  be 
given  to  our  southern  frontier,  without  occupying  a 
chain  of  posts  along  the  sea  shore.  The  moment 
the  American  army  retires  from  Florida,  the  war 
hatchet  will  be  again  raised,  and  the  same  scenes  of 
indiscriminate  massacre  with  which  our  frontier  set 
tlers  have  been  visited,  will  be  repeated.  So  long 
as  the  Indians  within  the  territory  of  Spain  are  ex 
posed  to  the  delusions  of  false  prophets  and  poison  of 
foreign  intrigue  ;  so  long  as  they  can  receive  ammu 
nition,  munitions  of  war,  &,c.  from  pretended  traders 
and  Spanish  commandants,  it  will  be  impossible  to 
restrain  their  outrages.  The  burning  of  their  towns, 
the  destroying  of  their  stock  and  provisions,  will  pro 
duce  very  little  else  but  temporary  embarrasments. 
Re-supplied  by  Spanish  authorities,  they  may  con 
centrate  and  disperse  at  will,  and  keep  up  a  lasting 
predatory  warfare  against  the  frontiers  of  tho  United 
States,  as  expensive  to  our  government  as  harass 
ing  to  our  troops.  The  savages,  therefore,  must  be 
made  dependant  upon  us,  and  cannot  be  kept  at 
peace  without  being  persuaded  of  the  certainty  of 
chastisement  being  inflicted  on  the  commission  of  the 
least  offence.  I  trust,  therefore,  that  the  measures 
which  have  been  pursued  will  meet  the  approba 
tion  of  the  President  of  the  United  States.  They 
have  been  adopted  in  pursuance  of  your  instructions, 
and  under  a  firm  conviction  that  they  alone  were  cal 
culated  to  insure  "  peace  and  security  to  the  southern 
frontier  of  Georgia." 


INDIAN    WARS.  253- 

tcThe  Army  will  move  on  the  7th  from  hence,  cross 
ing  the  Appalachicola  river,  at  the  Ochessee  bluff, 
about  49  miles  above  this. 

«  ANDREW  JACKSON,  Maj.  Gen.  Corivg. 
<kllon.'  J.  C.  Calhoun,  Secretary  of  War." 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter  from  Gen.  Jack 
son  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  fort  Montgomery, 
June  2,  will  acquaint  the  reader  with  his  reasons  as 
therein  stated,  for  having  penetrated  so  far,  and  ta 
ken  forcible  possession  of  Pensacola. 

"  On  the  10th  of  May  my  army  crossed  the  river 
at  the  Ochessee  village,  and  after  a  fatiguing,  tedious 
and  circuitous  march  of  12  days,  misled  by  the  ignor 
ance  of  our  pilots,  and  exposed  to  the  severest  priva 
tions,  we  finally  reached  and  effected  a  passage  over 
the  Escandria.  On  my  march  on  the  23d  of  May  ,a  pro 
test  from  the  Governor  of  Pensacola  was  delivered  to 
me  by  a  Spanish  officer,  remonstrating  in  warm  terms 
against  my  proceedings,  and  ordering  me  and  my 
force  instantly  to  quit  the  territory  of  his  Catholic  Ma 
jesty,  with  a  threat  to  apply  force  in  the  event  of  a  non- 
compliance.  This  was  so  open  an  indication  of  a  hos 
tile  feeling  on  his  part,  after  having  been  early  and 
well  advised  of  the  objects  of  my  operations,  that  I 
'hesitated  no  longer  on  the  measures  to  be  adopted. 
I  marched  for  and  entered  Pensacola  with  only  the 
show  of  resistance,  on  the  24th  of  May.  The  Gov 
ernor  had  previously  fled  to  the  Carlos  de  Barran 
cas  where  it  is  said  he  resolved  upon  a  most  despe 
rate  resistance.  The  peaceable  surrender  of  the 
Fort  at  the  Barrancas  was  denied.  I  marched  for 
and  invested  it  on  the  evening  of  the  25th  of  May, 
and  on  the  same  night  pushed  reconnoitering  par 
ties  under  its  very  guns.  On  the  morning  of  the 
26th  a  military  reconnoisance  was  taken  and  on  the 
same  night  a  lodgement  was  made,  under  a  fire 
from  the  Spanish  garrison,  by  Capt.  Gadsden  of  the 
engineers,  aided  by  Captains  Call  and  Young,  on  a 
commanding  position  within  385  yards  of  the  Span 
ish  works,  and  a  nine  pounder  mounted.  A  how- 
33 


WA 


lflL 


iizer  battery  was  simultaneously  established  on  the 
capitol  and  within  750  yards  of  the  fort.  At  day 
light  on  the  27th,  the  Spanish  garrison  opened  their 
artillery  on  our  batteries  ;  a  parley  was  sounded,  a 
flag  sent  in,  and  the  surrender  of  fort  Carlos  de  Bar 
rancas  again  de-manded  ;  the  favorable  positions  ob 
tained  were  pointed  out,  and  the  inutility  of  resis 
tance  urged.  Anxious  to  avoid  an  open  contest, 
and  to  save  the  effusion  of  blood,  the  same  terms 
previously  offered  were  again  tendered.  These 
were  rejected  and  offensive  operations  re-commenc 
ed.  A  spirited  and  well  directed  fire  was  kept  up 
the  greater  part  of  the  morning,  and  at  intervals 
during  the  afternoon.  In  the  evening  a  flag  was  sent 
%from  the  Spanish  Commandant,  offering  to  capitulate 
and  a  suspension  of  hostilities  were  grafted  until  eight 
o'clock  the  next  day,  when  articles  of  capitulation 
were  signed  and  agreed  to.  The  terms  are  more  fa 
vorable  than  a  conquered  enemy  would  have  meri 
ted  ;  but,  under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the 
case,  my  object  obtained,  there  was  no  motive  for 
wounding  the  feelings  of  those  whose  military  pride 
xor  honor  had  prompted  to  the  resistance  made.  The 
articles,  with  but  one  condition,  amount  to  the  com 
plete  Session  to  the  United  States  of  that  portion  of 
the  Floridas,  hitherto  tinder  the  government  of  Don 
Jose  Masot. 

"  The  Seminole  war  may  now  be  considered  at  a 
close,  tranquillity  again  restored  to  the  southern  fron 
tier  of  the  United  States,  and,  as  long  as  a  cordon  of 
military  posts  is  maintained  along  the  gulf  of  Mexico, 
America  has  nothing  to  apprehend  from  either  for 
eign  or  Indian  hostilities.  Indeed,  Sir,  to  attempt  to 
fortify  or  protect  an  imaginary  line,  or  to  suppose  that 
a  frontier  on  the  31st  degree  of  lattitude,  in  a  wilder 
ness,  can  be  secured  by  a  coridor  of  military  posts, 
whilst  the  Spanish  authorities  were  not  maintained  in 
the  Floridas,  and  that  the  country  lay  open  to  the  use 
and  excitement  of  any  enemy,  is  visionary  in  the  ex 
treme.  Oa  the  immutable  principle,  therefore,  of 


